Tree-felling at GMCH: NMC receives only 5 objections
   Date :01-Jun-2023

Tree-felling  
 
 
By Kaushik Bhattacharya
On one hand, political parties, environment activists and citizens are showing unity in opposing the proposed 2x660 MW thermal power plant at Koradi. On the other, they are least concerned about protecting tree cover in Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) premises. The Garden Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has received only five objections from greens and citizens opposing the proposal of the GMCH to fell 294 trees for three projects in its premises. The administration of GMCH had sought permission from NMC to fell 294 trees in its premises. On the proposal, NMC had published a notice in local newspapers on May 22. NMC had invited written objections from public with-in seven days of the publication of the notice.
May 30 was the last date for the submission of written objections, if any. By the last date, NMC had received only five objections opposing the proposed mass tree-felling in the heart of the city. “We are expecting far more response from citizens against the tree-felling notice. The public hearing is likely to be held in the last week of this month,” Amol Chourpagar, Garden Superintendent, NMC, told The Hitavada. Jaideep Das, former Honorary Wildlife Warden, said, “The allotted time for submission of objections was just one week. The Garden Department failed to create awareness about objections it sought for the GMCH proposal. This has resulted in poor response from citizens.” Sachin Khobragade, former local Tree Committee Member, said, “NMC intentionally allotted very less time for raising objections. Even NMC did not mentioned the age of trees in the notice. These are stunts made by NMC to allow tree felling with less number of objections.”
Green activist Anasuya Kale Chhabrani, who also raised objection on the issue, said, “The site of proposed tree felling is not far from the Ajni Railway Colony where the Inter Modal Station (IMS) is likely to come. GMCH and Ajni Railway Colony both places are the only green cover of South-West Nagpur which need to be conserve for future.”
The GMCH has asked the Garden Department to allow felling fell 21 trees for its upcoming Platinum Jubilee event scheduled in the month of December. In the same notice, GMCH has also sought NMC’s nod to cut 187 trees to construct a 400-room girls’ hostel near its Bungalow No 7 and 8. Also, the hospital management wanted to cut 86 trees in its premises for the construction of 80-bed paying ward.
Greens write GMCH to avoid tree-felling
Environment activists of Nagpur have appealed to GMCH Dean to find out an alternative to save 294 trees for the proposed projects in its premises. According to information, a delegation of Swacch Association will meet the Dean of the GMCH on Thursday. The delegation will submit a memorandum to the Dean in the backdrop of the proposed tree felling. In a letter to the Dean, it stated, “There should be no tree felling for platinum jubilee of GMCH as the trees have much better functions to perform than such occasions as visit of Prime Minister which can be held at other grounds and halls meant for such things.”