While conferences are being held frequently worldwide to save the environment, and environmentalists from home and abroad are expressing concern about the gradual climate change, a recent incident in Madhya Pradesh is once again raising questions about environmental consciousness.
Nearly 8,000 trees are being cut in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, for road expansion. The National Highway Development Authority (NHDA) is working on expanding the Ayodhya bypass in Bhopal. This two-way bypass currently has a total of four lanes. After expansion, a total of 10 lanes will be created, including two service lanes on each side. Approximately 8,000 trees will be cut for this expansion.
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As soon as this news from NHDA became public, environmentalists and nature lovers expressed their anger. Their question is: why are trees always cut when development is undertaken? They have stated that road expansion should be done through alternative means without cutting this huge number of trees.
The complaint has also reached the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT has stated that initially a proposal was made to cut 10,000 trees for this project. Later, that proposal was revised and it was announced that 7,871 trees would be cut, according to NHDA. It has also been mentioned that 10 saplings will be planted in place of each tree cut. NHDA has stated that this is not just a promise on paper. Strict monitoring will be maintained to ensure that saplings are actually being planted.
However, environmentalists claim that planting saplings is not the only alternative after cutting trees. It will take many years for a sapling to grow into a tree. By then, the adverse effects of cutting this huge number of trees will impact the environment. Human health will also be affected.
