Published: Wednesday, Apr 25, 2012, 16:14 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Ahmedabad | Agency: DNA
Environmental activists and NGOs across the state are getting
together to save close to 8,000 trees that will be chopped down for
expansion of the Jetpur-Junagadh highway and Veraval-Somnath bypass.
4,865 trees of 57 different species of trees, some of them believed
to be over 100 years old, will be sacrificed for the project. A proposal
seeking permission from the forest department to cut trees in the
protected forest areas close to the two highways has further raised the
ire of environmentalists.
Dinesh Goswami of Prakruti Nature Club
said that they are contacting various NGOs to build a consensus on the
matter. "We will be writing to them. We are going to work unitedly on
this issue," said Goswami. Another activist closely associated with the
development said that if the government refuses to budge from its
decision they may also file a PIL in the matter. "But that of course
will be the last resort," said the activist.
Goswami said they
have sent a mail to some 50 NGOs across the state about the issue. "We
will also be giving a memorandum to the mamlatdaar and later to the
district collector. The same will also be sent to various officials
including principal secretary forest department," said Goswami.
The
activists are urging the government to look at other options including
tree transplantation. "They can also explore the option of acquiring the
farm land close to the highway at a right price," said Goswami.
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_gujarat-activists-take-up-cudgels-to-save-5000-trees_1680549
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