Infrastructural growth is important for building a nation. But when you hear about how this growth is hampering the environment, it sure gets you thinking otherwise. In a recent report, it was revealed that the National Highway Authority of India’s (NHAI) Mumbai-Vadodara expressway will witness massive green cover destruction in its wake. The highway construction will see the felling of over 39,000 trees in Maharashtra. These figures were reported by the NHAI in response to an RTI.
39,000 Trees To Be Axed For The Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway
NHAI’s greenfield project, the Mumbai-Vadodara highway, will connect Gujarat’s Vadodara to Maharashtra’s Raigad. It is a part of the ambitious and massive Mumbai-Delhi expressway. This highway will have a 166.67-km stretch passing through Maharashtra’s Palghar, Thane, and Raigad districts. But that’s not what’s catching everyone’s attention on this highway. It was the fact that about 39,000 trees in Maharashtra will be chopped during its construction that made people raise their eyebrows. In fact, around 32,000 of these trees have already been chopped. In response to a Right to Information (RTI) query, the NHAI revealed these numbers.
They further mentioned that the authority will acquire 2,242 hectares of land, which includes 304 hectares of forest land. Out of this, they have already acquired 2,100 hectares of land. They have stated that the NHAI has permission to cut 39,132 trees in Maharashtra. This includes “13,763 trees in forest areas and 18,961 trees in non-forest areas.” But that’s not where the destruction stops. According to NHAI’s plan, they will have to demolish 3,086 houses and buildings, 48 religious structures, and 185 large warehouses.
Also Read: Mumbai Ranks No. 1 On List Of Cities With Most Billionaires In Asia; Check Top 10 Global List
What The Authorities Have To Say About This
Palghar in Maharashtra is a green area. It has a huge tribal population and is also home to rich fauna in the state. However, this district has already faced massive forest destruction during the construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train and the Vadhavan port near Dahanu. Adding the Mumbai-Vadodara expressway to this mix will heavily impact the region’s ecosystem.
When questioned about this, the NHAI reassured that they would pay the compensatory afforestation as the lost tree cover. Anshumali Srivastava, NHAI’s chief general manager, quoted to Hindustan Times, “We have already deposited the money with the Maharashtra forest department.” He further mentioned that the Maharashtra stretch of this highway would be ready by May 2025.
If the environment and people are the cost of such massive infrastructure, then do we really need it for growth? Let us know your thoughts about this in the comments!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE.