Nagpur: The Nagpur Bench of the High Court has issued notices to various government authorities, including the State Urban Development Department, the Public Works Department (PWD), the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), and other relevant agencies, following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Sharad Patil and others. The petition raises concerns about the ongoing road development projects in Nagpur, specifically the cementing and asphalt work around trees that is causing significant harm to their roots.
According to the petition, the cement and asphalt layers applied around the base of roadside trees are suffocating their roots, preventing water from reaching them. This has led to the deterioration and potential death of many trees across the city. The petitioners argue that this practice is not only environmentally damaging but also contributes to the increasing heat in the city due to the excessive use of cement.
The High Court, after hearing the case on Wednesday, directed the issuance of notices to the Secretary of the State Urban Development Department, the Secretary of PWD, the Municipal Commissioner, the Tree Authority, the District Collector, the Chief Engineer of PWD, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Chairperson of the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), the Superintendent Engineer of MSRDC, and the Chief Engineer of MSEDCL. These authorities have been ordered to submit their responses to the court.
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Tuesday 28 Jan. 2025
Lax Oversight and Contractor Non-compliance
The petition also highlighted the lax attitude of administrative officials in enforcing guidelines during road construction. Despite multiple directives from the administration to leave spaces around trees to allow water to reach their roots, contractors have reportedly continued to flout these rules. This disregard for official instructions has led to irregular practices that threaten the city’s green cover.
Recently, the NMC Commissioner acknowledged that contractors had been instructed to keep the areas around trees free of cement to ensure root access to water. However, the petitioners contend that these instructions are being ignored, forcing them to seek judicial intervention.
The court has taken serious note of these allegations and the potential environmental impact, and has asked the concerned authorities to respond promptly with their corrective measures.
