Pune Nashik Highway : NGT orders NHAI to pay Rs 23 crores to Forest dept for tree replantation work

The National Highway Authority Of India (NHAI) has been ordered by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) bench to pay the forest department a total amount of Rs. 23.41 crore in lieu of trees felled for construction of the Pune Nashik highway. 

The Nashik-Pune Highway was created in 2017 and the NHAI had promised to replant the trees once the construction is over. Therefore, Ganesh Borhade, an Ahmednagar-based environmental activist, complained about the failure of planting trees. He said, “The NHAI officials had informed me in response to an RTI query that they had already done the needful, but when we cross-verified the list there was nothing on the ground. Hence, I approached NGT four years ago.”

This amount is directed to give to the forest department so that the department can reforest areas in place of trees that fell due to the construction of the Pune-Nashik Highway.

The money is expected to be deposited into the forest dept’s account within a month of the order passed on February 12. The case was filed by Ahmednagar based activist Ganesh Borhade.The next hearing will be held on 10th April 2024. Over 2000 trees were felled on the Sangamner stretch only. There are more trees which were felled on the entire Pune Nashik Highway. 

According to Vivek Khandekar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, “We will simultaneously start the plantation in all three divisions once funds are received. There is a provision for irrigation so trees can be waterest till the Monsoon.” 

A total of 2373 trees were felled on the highway stretch in Sangamner, the total Highway’s tree count is much higher. Following this, the NGT Is going to plant 10 trees for every 1 tree that fell amidst the construction.