344 trees to make way for key road expansion project in Gurgaon, greens fume
Gurgaon: GMDA has begun felling 344 trees along Vyapar Kendra Road – approximately 2km long – as part of a road expansion project. According to the forest department, permission for felling 344 trees along the master dividing road between sectors 27 and 43 was given on March 12.
This comes amid concerns that no concrete plan for afforestation — typically requiring 10 times the number of trees felled — has been announced yet even as environmentalists are livid at the "shrinking green cover in the city". Environment activist Vaishali Rana said, "Permissions were granted to cut down trees, but an afforestation plan has not been submitted to carry out ten times plantation."
According to the Forest Survey of India (FSI) report 2023, Haryana's forest cover decreased by 14sqkm from 2021 to 2023, with Gurgaon's tree cover at 12.9% of its geographical area.
The FSI report 2021 pointed out that Haryana's forest cover increased by 1sqkm in 2021 compared to 2019. Gurgaon lost 2.5sqkm of forest cover between Oct 2019 and Feb 2020.
At the same time, urban clusters such as Gurgaon and Faridabad have rapidly grown to make space for houses, businesses, roads and other infrastructure.
For instance, 5,000 trees were felled to make way for flyovers and underpasses on NH8 in Gurgaon in 2017, and a year later, permission was granted to chop down 10,000 trees to widen the Sohna road.
Residents and environmentalists have voiced their frustration over the lack of transparency regarding replantation efforts. Residents warn that the loss of these trees will exacerbate air pollution and heat levels in the city.
Residents are now urging GMDA to publicly disclose its afforestation strategy and ensure that the city's green cover is restored. Without immediate action, the city risks losing more of its natural shade and worsening environmental conditions.
A GMDA official said, "We will identify land soon and carry out afforestation." When asked why they haven't done compensatory plantation, the official said, "We were not aware."
Prashant Yadav, a resident of Sushant Lok, said, "We are already struggling with rising temperatures and deteriorating air quality. Cutting down trees without a proper replantation plan is irresponsible."
City-based environmentalist Vivek Kamboj said, "The govt has made no efforts to increase the city's green cover over the years and now it again has given a free hand to incompetent civic agencies to fell trees for unnecessary road expansion."
"In the stretch where GMDA is planning expansion, the stretch has already reached its ultimate capacity and now felling more than 20-30 years of trees doesn't make sense. Also, the road cannot be expanded at certain stretches because there is already construction, so what is the point of the exercise," Kamboj said.
As per the permission letter, the conditions which GMDA needs to fulfil to fell 344 trees are: "Only the numbered trees will be felled.
No dragging of wood will be permitted. Felling after sunset and before sunrise will not be permitted. No fire will be allowed."
The letter says, "No damage to unmarked trees will be caused during felling in the area and the owner will have to pay the compensation as determined by DFO for any such damage. The owner of the land shall be responsible for any illicit felling in the area and he will have to pay the compensation as determined by DFO for any such illicit felling. Approved subject to compensatory plantation of ten times the number of trees to be felled by the agency.
" It is also notable that unlike Delhi, Haryana does not have a Tree Act of its own.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
Khandre orders removal of dangerous trees, branches ahead of monsoon
In a proactive step to prevent loss of life and property during the monsoon season, Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar B Khandre has directed forest officials to identify and prune dangerous trees and branches in urban areas. The Minister launched a tree conservation initiative today near Cantonment in Bengaluru by removing concrete encasements around trees. He expressed deep sorrow over the recent death of 29-year-old Akshay, who succumbed to injuries after a tree branch fell on him. Experts have attributed the fall of weak-rooted and tall trees during wind and rain to concrete, tiles, and stone slabs laid around their base, which block water from seeping into the roots. Minister Khandre noted that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had also passed orders against such practices, and the state government has issued official guidelines on the matter. The BBMP's Special Commissioner has already instructed for the removal of concrete surrounding trees. Going forward, any roadside planting must ensure a minimum one-meter soil radius around the saplings to promote healthy root growth. The Minister further instructed BBMP, other municipal bodies, the Highway Authority, the Horticulture Department, and the Social Forestry Division of the Forest Department to act on removing concrete and asphalt around existing trees planted by them. Calling for regular meetings of the Tree Authority, Khandre emphasized the need to identify hazardous trees and promptly remove unsafe branches. 'Experts say one person needs at least seven trees to breathe comfortably, but today in Bengaluru, there is barely one tree for every seven people. We must all participate in tree conservation,' he urged. Lamenting the increasing tendency to cut trees for visibility of shop signage or concerns about falling leaves being a nuisance, the Minister appealed to citizens not to encase or cut trees unlawfully, especially those in front of their homes. Once known as the 'Garden City' and 'Pensioner's Paradise', Bengaluru is now dominated by high-rises. 'We must act to restore its green cover. Trees protect those who protect them — 'Vriksho Rakshati Rakshitah',' he remarked.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
3 houses on Gurgaon Metro's route: Resolve roadblock, says Haryana chief secretary
Gurgaon: Giving a push to the long-delayed Gurgaon Metro project, chief secretary Anurag Rastogi on Wednesday directed the district administration to resolve an issue pertaining to land transfer "amicably" so that it can be handed over to GMRL without further delay. Three houses — two houses in Sector 4 and a third in Sector 9 — fall on the alignment of the route planned for the Millennium City Centre-Cyber City metro corridor. Rastogi directed all departments to resolve roadblocks hindering construction and asked deputy commissioner Ajay Kumar to "hold "immediate discussions" with the landowners. This comes after GMRL apprised him that all the owners are willing and have demanded alternate plots of similar size and fair compensation at market rate. A detailed discussion followed on the Hero Honda Chowk–Umang Bhardwaj Chowk stretch, which continues to face obstructions in a nearly 2km section. According to GMRL, the power sub-station has not been shifted, while the Himgiri Ashram land is yet to be vacated. Additionally, the presence of Bikaner Mishtaan Bhandar, high-tension lines and towers and a CNG pump is impeding the planned metro route. Rastogi instructed GMDA, HSVP and NHAI to address these issues urgently and expedite clearance. GMDA officials said the forest department has granted approval for felling 1,300 trees.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
Odisha to conduct fresh survey to identify new habitats for gharials
BHUBANESWAR: Celebrating 50 years of 'Project Crocodile' in the state, the Odisha government on Tuesday announced to conduct a fresh survey to identity new potential habitats for gharial species of the reptile, population of which has been revived from the brink of extinction in the Mahanadi river system, after decades of struggle. The report 'Back from the brink - Conserving the Gharials of Mahanadi', released by the Forest, Environment and Climate Change department on the day as part of the celebration, stated that the comprehensive survey is proposed to re-evaluate existing threats, assess changes in river physiography, and identify potential new habitats for gharials. Study of wild gharials - both adults and hatchlings - is also necessary to monitor their breeding dynamics, courtship, nesting, hatchling behaviour, maternal guarding, and dispersal patterns, the report underlined. Genetic study is also crucial for long-term survival of gharials in the Mahanadi river, it added. Forest and Environment minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia said, Odisha has successfully revived and sustained crocodile populations in the state over the last 50 years. 'Our state is home to all three species of Indian crocodiles - saltwater, mugger and gharial, and currently, we are focusing on maximising the population of the critically endangered gharial in the Mahanadi through a dedicated Species Recovery Programme,' he added.
