NGT gives green signal to Bhopal’s 10-lane Ayodhya Bypass:NHAI allowed to proceed with strict environmental conditions; tree plantation, monitoring made mandatory

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) New Delhi bench has granted permission for the Ayodhya Bypass project in Bhopal, but directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to comply with all environmental conditions linked to the project. Bhopal-based environmentalist Nitin Saxena had filed a petition before the NGT. While disposing of the matter, the tribunal allowed the project to proceed subject to environmental safeguards. The case was heard by a bench comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Shyo Kumar Singh, expert member Dr A. Senthil Vel and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi. Petitioner Saxena had opposed the large-scale felling of trees for the project and raised concerns over environmental damage, rising urban temperatures and alleged violation of the Madhya Pradesh Preservation of Trees (Urban Areas) Act, 2001. During the hearing, NHAI informed the tribunal that the project was of national importance. It said the expansion was necessary to address increasing traffic pressure, accident-prone black spots and congestion issues in Bhopal. NHAI also stated that permission for tree cutting had been obtained from the competent authority and compensatory plantation would be carried out as per environmental rules. No illegality in permission in documents After examining documents, reports and arguments presented by all parties, the NGT observed that there was no illegality in the permission granted for tree felling. However, the tribunal issued several important directions for environmental protection. It directed strict compliance with the Madhya Pradesh tree preservation law and environmental regulations. It also ordered compensatory plantation and conservation work under the Green Highways Policy. The tribunal further directed that a joint technical committee comprising the forest department, municipal corporation, horticulture department and the state pollution control board should monitor the plantations for 15 years. Recommendations made by the Central Empowered Committee must also be followed. In addition, NHAI has been asked to submit details of funds deposited and utilised under plantation and CAMPA heads during the past several years. The state pollution control board has been directed to continue monitoring the use of compensatory plantation funds and the survival status of planted saplings. Green areas necessary, but project must also move forward The tribunal observed that environmental protection and preservation of urban green cover are extremely important, but infrastructure projects of national significance can proceed if environmental norms and compensatory measures are properly followed. With this, the main application and pending interim pleas were disposed of. How the case reached Delhi from Bhopal NHAI is widening the Ayodhya Bypass in Bhopal from Asaram Chowk to Ratnagiri Tiraha into a 10-lane road at a cost of Rs 836.91 crore. The stretch is 16 km long. A total of 7,871 trees, aged between 40 and 80 years, are proposed to be cut for the project. In December last year, nearly half the trees were cut within three days, triggering widespread protests. The matter later reached the NGT, which stayed further tree felling till January 8. The Bhopal bench heard the case two to three times before it was transferred to the Delhi bench, where the final hearing was completed. Petitioner Nitin Saxena said that the stay order issued on December 22 regarding tree cutting would remain in force for now. He said the decision has provided interim relief to the petitioner side as the ban on cutting thousands of trees still continues. Environmentalist had staged protest Environmentalists had strongly opposed the cutting of trees. Environmentalists including Subhash C. Pandey, Umashankar Tiwari, petitioner Nitin Saxena, Suyash Kulshreshtha and Rashid Noor had alleged that NHAI was destroying greenery by cutting trees. They argued that instead of constructing a 10-lane road, NHAI could have worked on an elevated corridor or reduced the proposal to a six-lane road. They also pointed out that many of the trees being cut through the municipal corporation were between 40 and 80 years old. Congress also staged protests The Indian National Congress had also staged protests over the tree cutting. Senior Congress leaders including Ravindra Sahu Jhumarwala and district president Praveen Saxena had protested wearing masks. Environmentalist Umashankar Tiwari had said that several trees being cut on both sides of the bypass were 80 to 100 years old or even older. He said that even if new saplings were planted in their place, it would take years for them to grow into trees. NHAI had made this plan in place of trees