450 trees felled at Jabalpur research centre:Valuable timber missing from Agricultural University’s Fruit Research Center in Jabalpur

Around 450 trees were cut at the Fruit Research Centre of Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University (JNKVV) in Jabalpur, raising questions over the large-scale felling. Some of the trees cut were reportedly new and did not require removal. The research centre, spread across 55 acres in Imlai village, had issued a tender for the work, which was awarded to a firm named Sameer. The firm deployed labourers to carry out the cutting, and valuable timber was also taken away from the site. University officials, however, claimed that only pruning work was carried out before the monsoon and that no fruit-bearing trees were cut. After the issue came to light, the university administration formed an inquiry committee and said action would be taken after the report is submitted. During a visit to the site, Dainik Bhaskar found a large number of cut Ber, Jamun, Mango, Amla and Eucalyptus trees at the research centre. See the cut trees in pictures.. Center was established 52 years ago The Fruit Research Center was established 52 years ago in the year 1974-75. Thousands of fruit-bearing and flowering trees have been planted in this center, spread over an area of 55 acres. These include trees of mango, plum, eucalyptus, amla, and many other species. This campus plays an important role as an oxygen bank within a radius of several kilometers. Due to the absence of such a large developed garden in the vicinity of the city, its environmental significance is also quite high. For this reason, Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University has appointed a large number of staff for its care and conservation. A team of experts regularly conducts research and study work on trees and plants here. In-charge said – Tender was given for one and a half lakh rupees Dr. Umesh Chanderia, in-charge of the Fruit Research Center, told Dainik Bhaskar that there were many trees in the center that had not borne fruit for years. The center had become dense all around, due to which if anyone entered stealthily, it would not be known. Villagers were also continuously stealing wood. Due to this, a tender was issued in February for tree cutting. The tender was given to Sameer Firm of Jabalpur. Dr. Umesh Chanderia said – The contractor had agreed to pay one and a half lakh rupees for cutting four hundred and fifty trees and take all the wood. This information was also given to senior officials. Between February 4 and February 24, the contractor started having trees cut down by laborers. During this period, four hundred and fifty trees were cut down and the wood was taken away by the contractor. Two months later, in May, it was discovered that the contractor had also cut down some trees for which there was no permission. Dr. Umesh Chanderia says that the trees that were cut were not bearing fruit and were also occupying space. Mango, Amla, Jamun, and Ber trees were not completely cut down, but rather pruned. No damage has been caused by cutting the trees. Only those trees were cut which were not bearing fruit. Registrar said – We are waiting for the investigation report Registrar of Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University, Dr. AK Jain says that pruning and trimming are done so that the trees grow well before the rains, and permission for this was also given. It has now come to light that some fruit-bearing trees located in the center were cut down from their roots.