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Gandhinagar citizens do 'Chipko' to save trees

Voluntary organisations allege that more trees are being felled than are necessary to widen the road.

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Trees were being hacked for expansion of road into six lanes
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Green activists conducted a 'Chipko' movement on Ahmedabad – Gandhinagar belt to prevent unnecessary felling of trees. Voluntary organisations allege that more trees are being felled than are necessary to widen the road. However, forest officials deny claim that trees are being felled unnecessarily.

Green activists led by Green Global Brigade embraced trees along the Ch-0 to Vaishnodevi Circle belt to prevent them from getting cut by forest department officials on Wednesday morning. "These are 25- year old trees. Once you cut them, it takes another 25 years to replace them. We can understand if trees just adjacent to the roads are cut, but tree in the interior are also being cut," said Nilesh Rajgor president of Green Global Brigade – Gujarat region. Forest department stopped felling of trees following the protests, claimed Rajgor.

The road on the belt is being expanded to six lane, for which these trees are being cut, claim forest officials. Rajgor claimed that trees are being cut at a time when Gujarat is facing one of the worst droughts in recent years and Ahmedabad city is facing a rise in pollution. "Moreover, this is a mating season for birds. What will they do if there are no trees. Their nest will get destroyed, eggs will break. This amounts to killing of birds, for which criminal proceedings can be initiated," said Rajgor.

Brigade along with Gandhinagar Vasahat Mahamandal will also organise a candle march on Saturday to protest against indiscriminate felling of trees. "We have sought permission from authorities for the march. We will continue with the march even if the permission is denied," said Arun Buch, president of Mahamandal. He claimed that close to 20,000 trees are in the process of being cut on the stretch. Another 8,000 are being cut along J-Road in Gandhinagar. "Vehicular movement is prohibited on J-Road for 12 hours. Why do you want to widen this stretch, where the traffic is restricted."

However, District Forest Officer S M Damor denied the claim that trees are being cut unnecessarily. "In fact we are trying to save as many trees as possible. We have transplanted close to 2,000 trees and their survival rate is also over 80 per cent. I have personally inspected the areas where trees are translocated," said Damor.

CANDLE MARCH

  • The road near Vashnodevi Circle is being expanded in to six-lane
     
  • Activists say there are 25-year-old trees on the stretch. Experts said any further ecological  change will worsen the drought situation in the state
     
  • Along with Gandhinagar Vasahat Mahamandal will also organise a candle march on Saturday
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