3,100 trees to be cut on Achalpur Road, greens want ADB to withdraw funds

Nagpur: Greens have questioned the move of the public works department (PWD) to expand the 50km Amravati-Achalpur-Paratwada (MSH-6) road, which will come at the cost of huge ecological damage by felling over

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,100 huge shadowy trees. They also want the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to withdraw funds for the project.

This may be one of the unique road stretches in Vidarbha having such tall trees making a welcome arch of a green canopy on both sides. The PWD will destroy all these trees to widen the road to 14 metres from the existing 5 to 7.5 metres.

The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court has already admitted an application by honorary wildlife warden Jaydeep Das as a PIL. Senior counsel Sudhir Puranik has been asked to draft a petition.

The road in question has historical importance as the twin cities of Paratwada and Achalpur find itself in history dating back to the 13th century from when it served as military (retreat) camps of various kingdoms and lastly for the British.

The British would retreat to Paratwada from various fronts of war and recuperate in the scenic forests of Central India and hill station of Chikhaldara surrounding the town. This road is particularly straight in long stretches to most probably facilitate easy manoeuvring of armoured vehicles of the past during their travel to Paratwada.

PWD executive engineer Chandrakant Mehetre confirmed over 2,500 trees will be cut for road widening. “The road being constructed will be four-laned with aid from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The ADB has envisaged 40-45 roads totalling 3,000km in Maharashtra for which it is providing a Rs5,000 crore loan. Amravati-Achalpur is a Rs500 crore project,” said Mehetre.

However, earlier, when the same road was proposed to be handed over to the NHAI, a survey claimed that 3,184 trees would be felled for widening. The Amravati-Achalpur road will connect Betul from Paratwada and to Akot-Akola via Anjangaon Surji. However, the road will not be built through the Melghat Tiger Reserve owing to vast tracks of forests involved.

Even as the fate of over 3,000 trees hangs in the balance, greens have slammed the road authority for destroying precious tree cover. “PWD has already felled thousands of trees on roads between Walgaon-Daryapur-Akot, Anjangaon Surji-Akot and Morshi-Warud roads. They are widening all roads without any traffic analysis. Nowhere have I seen compensatory tree plantation,” says Jaisingh Deshmukh of Amravati.

Citing the rule book, Deshmukh said, “The ADB guidelines don’t allow such a huge damage to the environment. It is surprising how ADB has agreed to fund the road project which involves huge ecological damage. It should withdraw.”

However, Mehetre, while defending the project, said, “For one tree felled, we will plant three trees. Overall 7,500 trees will be planted and there’s a clause to maintain these saplings for 5 years.”

Opposing the move, Gaurav Kadu of Wildlife Adventure, said, “There is no need for expanding this road. When you know that beyond Paratwada there is the Melghat reserve and getting permissions would be difficult, then why is the 50km road being four-laned by spending Rs500 crore?. Traffic can still be maintained by removing roadside encroachments and tarring the existing road.”

Neem, tamarind, pipal, banyan and other indigenous species were planted during the Raj era and this lineage of huge trees provide shade to many during the harsh summers. “The trees are homes of many birds. Many trees are being clandestinely felled, either by burning or chemical poisoning,” alleged the activist.

Paratwada is considered the gateway to Chikhaldara, the only hill station of Vidarbha and Melghat, one of the biggest and oldest tiger reserves in the country. This road on both sides encompasses vast agriculture fields which are a good habitat for black bucks. These herbivores cross the road and the expanded road will sound the death knell for the schedule-I animals.

The Supreme Court recently observed that the value of a tree has to be calculated by the volume of oxygen it gives while measuring the cost of any project. “The mass murder of trees should be stopped and if at all the PWD wants to construct the road, an alternative alignment by acquiring the adjoining land should be explored,” said Kadu.