17 June 2019



The state government's marquee 701-km Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway will eat up over 2 lakh trees.

A status report on the project, which was presented at a review meeting on June 3, said that of the 2,76,050 listed trees, 1,53,744 have already been axed. Activists called the loss of green cover one of the biggest in recent times for the project.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the agency that's building the corridor, has claimed that it would plant 8 lakh trees to compensate for the loss. "The Wildlife Sanctuary of India, the Botanical Survey of India and the forest department will monitor the trees for seven years to ensure their survival. As per the norms of Indian Roads Congress, 583 trees should be planted every 1 km but we will plant 650 trees every 1 km. We have started planning the plantation, which will be implemented the next monsoon. We will plant local trees, not exotic ones to ensure they survive, and also make irrigation arrangements for all," said Radheshyam Mopalwar, managing director and vice-chairman, MSRDC.

D Stalin of NGO Vanshakti the 'compensation' will not be as effective as it's touted to be since the plantation drive will not immediately result in recovery of the green cover. "Let's assume that the new plantation does take place. Saplings can't compensate for grown trees. A deficit of 20 years will remain. Also, how will the government provide 8 lakh litre of water every day? Is there any concrete plan?"

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