RLDA illegally fells hundreds of trees for Ajni Rly Station development

By Kaushik Bhattacharya

For the development of Ajni Railway Station and construction of the parking area, the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) cut down hundreds of trees in Ajni Railway Colony, allegedly without permission of the Garden Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). Ajni Railway Colony which is already in controversies due to Inter Modal Station (IMS) project in Ajni, is now in the limelight for the station expansion project.

Citizens and environment activists are already protesting against the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for their proposal of cutting down thousands of trees in Ajni Railway Colony for IMS Project. Citizens and activists have expressed serious concern over the matter of felling of hundreds of trees in the same colony, now, in the name of development of Ajni Railway Station. After getting information about the mass tree felling in the Colony near railway tracks, Amol Chourpagar, Garden Superintendent, NMC rushed to the spot. He found hundreds of trees felled by RLDA without seeking permission from the Garden Department. As per the sources, Garden Department will conduct a panchanama within a couple of days to clear air on number of trees cut down in the Colony.

“The authorities are least bother to save the green cover of the city. This is the perfect example of cutting large number of trees in the name of development. As a citizen, we are fighting against the IMS Project from the day one which is now under trial for the same tree felling reason. Now, Indian Railways is violating the rules by mass felling of trees on its land which is against the court,” Jaideep Das, former Honorary Wildlife Warden told The Hitavada. Kaustav Chatterjee, Founder, Green Vigil Foundation said, “This is absolutely shocking that such a huge number of trees being felled without permission, that too by a Government body. NMC should investigate the matter deeply and take appropriate action against the defaulters.” While the Government is making the Tree Act more stringent, the illegal tree felling is on the rise unabated. Unless, serious punishment is awarded to defaulters, illegal tree felling will continue, he added.

“Old Wine, New Bottle. This is original IMS in small parts. Instead of NHAI this time RLDA is initiating it in different manner. Government authorities are careless about rules and laws, looks like all rules are always only for the common citizen,” said green activist Anasuya Kale Chhabrani. “NMC had done a survey and counted 6,953 trees to be felled for IMS. For this incident, urgent inspection should be done by NMC, and RLDA officials and contractor should be booked for their illegal act,” Chhabrani added.