Fate of 208-year-old Banyan tree in Sitabuldi hangs in balance

 

 

 

Environment activists and citizens raised objection against a notice published by Garden Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) in a newspaper regarding felling of a 208-year-old Banyan tree in Sitabuldi area on Tuesday. As per the notice, Ghanshyam Purohit, a resident of A/3, Karunaganga, near Hislop College, Civil Lines, raised the demand for felling of the heritage tree which is situated at House No 515, 516, 517, near Ganraj Hotel, Bhide Road, Sitabuldi. The notice asked for written objections for the felling of the tree within seven days. After getting information about the notice in social media, activists came in action and raised their voice against the tree felling and also visited the spot. Kaustav Chatterjee, Founder, Green Vigil Foundation said, “In August 2017, there was an attempt to cut down the same tree.

 

A huge team of tree cutters along with cutting equipment tried to cut down the said tree. At that time, Green Vigil Foundation along with local residents had saved the tree. At that time, permission was given for chopping a few branches which were interfering with transformer, however, the attempt was made to cut down the entire tree.” “The area is having high commercial value, hence, all attempts are being made to remove the 208-year-old tree. We visited site today once again and measured the girth of the said peepal tree, which is around 200 inch, based on which, the age of the tree is coming out to be around 208 years,” Chatterjee informed.

 

We will once again oppose the cutting of such an old tree and will request authorities as well as builders to make construction plan keeping the tree intact, he added. On one hand the state government amended the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Preservation and Protection of Trees Act, 1975, giving ‘heritage’ status to 50-year-old trees, on the other hand NMC is considering applications for felling of tree which is more than two centuries old and also a heritage for the city.