People’s victory: NMC scraps road through pristine Bharat Van
27 Feb 2020 10:20:32
Staff Reporter :
Bowing to spontaneous public movement supported by ‘The Hitavada’, opposing destruction of pristine ‘Bharat Van’ semi-forest area, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has cancelled permission granted to Maha Metro for construction of a 18-mtr wide road joining Amravati Road to Telangkhedi. The ownership of land is vested with Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. The project had created furore among citizens who joined hands to oppose plans to destroy ‘Bharat Van’.
NMC informed the High Court about its decision of cancelling permission granted to Maha Metro, during the hearing based on a suo-motu PIL initiated on the basis of a letter written by Dr Jaydeep Das, Honorary Wildlife Warden of Nagpur district, opposing this road whose utility was always questionable but its ill-effect on city’s green cover was a stark reality. A division bench consisting of Justice Ravi Deshpande and Justice Amit Borkar, after recording the statement made by NMC Counsel, disposed of the suo-motu PIL. Kartik Shukul, Amicus Curiae, had dubbed the project as unwarranted, leading to irreparable loss of green cover and precious trees situated in ‘Bharat Van’.
The rich ‘Bharat Van’ was sought to be disturbed for a proposed Development Plan (DP) road connecting Amravati Road to Telangkhedi to provide an alternate route to commuters after closure of Futala lake road. Maha Metro is executing work of constructing viewers’ gallery for fountain at Futala lake. Initially, the underpass at Futala lake was proposed. Later, the plan was changed and it was decided to construct proposed DP road. Rattled by massive opposition, Maha Metro has already droppedthe idea of constructing this road stretch apprehending yet another public backlash. Young and old alike and school-children had participated in the protests opposing this disastrous idea.
The High Court, too, had sternly warned NMC not to allow cutting of a single tree and not to make tree cutting hearing a formality. Left with no choice, various options like tunnel, minimal damage to tree cover were floated, but those failed to befool the vigilant citizens of Nagpur who opposed the evil design by city planners to destroy the green patch in Bharat Nagar area by cutting through ‘Bharat Van’. The proposal to shift full grown trees also was received with skepticism it deserved. This was, in fact, one of the longest protests against any development project in the city as it would have impacted generations to come.
Viable alternative like widening existing roads within Ravi Nagar was explored and found support from Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, after which Maha Metro shelved this disastrous idea. Amicus Curiae Kartik Shukul, senior counsel S K Mishra and Adv Kaustubh Deogade (Maha Metro), Adv Jaimini Kasat (NMC), and Government Pleader Sumant Deopujari (State) appeared in the matter.
Activists thank ‘The Hitavada’ for unflinching support Describing the victory as one in ‘favour of the environment and the mute trees that give us life saving oxygen and water’, the ‘Save Bharat Van’ movement activists have thanked ‘The Hitavada’ for its unflinching support to this people’s movement. “Through this entire journey, your media has been extremely supportive of the people’s movement which saw unprecedented support from all quarters without any prejudice or bias,” Dr Jaydeep Das, Honorary Wildlife Warden of Nagpur district, said while expressing gratitude towards the entire team.
“Your journalists and photographers have stood day and night, in sun and rain, to cover the happenings when the people of Nagpur were fighting it out on the streets. Finally, the efforts have yielded desired result,” he said. The trees are saved and so are the homes of numerous birds and mammals. They live to fight another day, another battle, said an elated Dr Das, while hoping that Nagpur and the world needs more such united concerned stands against unsustainable practices thar are damaging the world. Simran Thakre, stated in her reaction sent to ‘The Hitavada’ via email that many citizens and organisations had jointly fought for the cause and even demonstrated by forming a human chain of 7500+ individuals. This endeavour had resulted into creation of vast awareness amongst citizens. Apart from ‘Bharat Van’, people have started taking cognisance of many such issues like pollution, climate change, and global warming.