Over three lakh trees were chopped down to make way for large-scale infrastructure projects across the State capital in last ten years, a move that has triggered widespread condemnation from environmentalists. Due to which the green area in the city has shrunken by more than 30 per cent. Due to reduction in trees, dust on the roads and pollution in the water bodies are also increasing. It is also having a bad effect on people’s health. But instead of conserving the greenery, the officials of the agencies responsible for development in the city are pushing it towards destruction. A recent survey has revealed that the way trees have been cut down for construction work in the last ten years, the greenery of Bhopal has decreased by 30 per cent. What is even more surprising is that it has registered a decline of 20 per cent in the last five years. Concrete forests were created after 225 acres of green area was destroyed at nine places where trees were felled on a large scale. This causes extreme heat in the city during summer.

 

Due to this the average temperature here has increased by five to seven degrees Celsius. Most of the damage to the city’s environment has occurred between 2014 and 2021. Around 80 per cent of the trees were cut during this time. Whereas 20 per cent of the trees were cut between 2009 and 2013. Trees are being sacrificed in the name of development. However, claims were made to displace these trees and plant them in forests like Kaliyasot, Kerwa and Chandanpura etc. But due to alleged negligence of the officials this too was not successful. These trees died within a few days. Whereas officials have been claiming to plant up to four times as many saplings in place of trees. But by the time they grow up to become trees, a lot of damage will have been done to the environment. The greenery of the city will gradually be destroyed.

 

Along with less green cover in the city, the major causes of air pollution are dust flying in the air and rapid construction work. A total of 67 per cent of pollution is due to dust. Whereas, 12 per cent pollution is being caused by vehicles emitting smoke. Construction of Metro and flyovers is also causing 11 per cent pollution. Meanwhile, burning of garbage is also spreading five per cent pollution in the city. To reduce this pollution, the Centre gave a grant of Rs 166.50 crore in last three years under the National Clean Air Programme. Due to this, sweeping machines and CNG vehicles were purchased to reduce air pollution, but the air quality did not improve. The maximum pollution in the city is in MP Nagar, DIG Bungalow, Govindpura, Kolar Road and other places.