Maharashtra State Tree Authority (MSTA) has given nod for the felling of 613 trees to undertake widening of Ambazari Road from Vivekand Statue till the dam, that spreads till the University land near Pandhrabodi slums. Nagpur Municipal Commissioner got the letter granting permission for cutting down the trees, in addition to trees that are being chopped that pose a threat to embankment of the dam. These trees are on the slope of the Ambazari dam that is parallel to the existing two-laned road. Among the trees that are planned to be removed includes 60 tagged with heritage status and letter is signed by Director (Environment) and Member Secretary, Maharashtra State Tree Authority. Incidentally, the permission is dated July 18, 2023, much before the flash floods that triggered sudden concern about the safety of Ambazari Dam. Further while granting the permission, MSTA has laid down certain conditions and one does not known whether NMC has followed them or not as of yet.

 

As the number of trees were more, NMC forwarded the proposal to State Tree Authority for its nod. The meeting of State Tree Authority held on June 16, 2023, had debated the issue and went through the assessment provided by NMC that has planned a four laned road from near University Campus Square till Subhash Nagar junction near the statue of Swami Vivekanand. State Government has speedily sanctioned works related to Ambazari Dam strengthening as High Court is monitoring the process after citizens approached the court in aftermath of flash floods on September 23, 2023, that resulted in considerable damage to the household material. This also includes plugging the gaps in the wall of Naag River and increasing its heights at some places and also deepening the bed to increase its carrying capacity.

 

As per the permission letter, MSTA has mandated NMC to submit report from NEERI, CSIR, NGRI, SERC specifying need for cutting the trees as same are necessary for the structural safety of the dam. It was also directed to the local body to explore possibility of transplantation of heritage trees as their conservation is necessary. Also, there was direction to first undertake plantation of new native or indigenous species trees before undertaking cutting as part of compensatory afforestation. The same would be equivalent to cumulative age of the trees that are earmarked for cutting.

 

Similarly, the NMC was also directed to geo-tag the new trees and their growth should be monitored using the latest technologies. These new trees are to be maintained for a period of seven years. In case of any mortality, then equivalent new trees are to be planted. Irrigation Department had undertaken assessment of structural safety of Ambazari Dam and flagged the high rise trees on the embankment as the problem. For a long the report lay in cold storage and NMC and other political leaders only woke-up in aftermath of the flash floods in city on the banks of Naag River.