After several episodes of demonstrations of protest by the residents, environmentalists, social bodies and intellectuals of the city against the cutting of 29,000 trees, the State Government, on Monday, finally decided to take back the order of cutting the lungs of the city. Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya posted on social media platform X, said, “Keeping in view the environmental protection and trees present in the area of the New Bhopal re-densification plan, the presented proposal was rejected after thorough considerations and instructions were given to examine other alternative location.” The post further stated that discussions will be also held with citizens and public representatives at the initial level for the new proposal. A project was proposed by the State Government to clear the 29,000 trees in the areas of Tulsi Nagar and Shivaji Nagar to make way for the bungalows of ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats.

 

As per the decision the, an area of around 300 acre was designated in the areas of Tulsi Nagar and Shivaji Nagar and the Government came up with a project of around Rs 2,300 crore for the construction of bungalows, flats and houses for the ministers, MLAs and for the permanent executive. As soon as the decision came into light, people from all stages came up from protesting against with banners urging the Government to take back the order. During the protest, a ‘Chipko’ movement was also started in the city where people specifically hugged the trees and cried urging for the Government to avert the decision. The environmentalists alleged that this will have an adverse effect on the environment of the city. Some of them even planned to knock the doors of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Similar demonstrations were also held during the time of Smart City construction and Kolar six lane road. ‘Greenery is the identity of Bhopal.’

 

This was the line which was often reiterated by the citizens of the city during the movement for saving the trees of the city. As per experts, due to the cruel cutting in the name of development, the beautiful city of lakes is now on the verge of becoming a heat island with the temperature rising the five to seven degrees in the summers and is expected to rise more in the course of time, if such activities are not checked. It may also noted that the green cover has been reduced from 62 per cent to 11 per cent in the past years. Significantly, there has been a rise of common consensus among the experts to inculcate sustainable developmental practices in policy making.