Nagpur Commissioner Issues Urgent Directive to Complete Tree De-Choking by February 23
In a decisive move to address environmental concerns, Divisional Commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari has mandated that all relevant agencies in Nagpur must finalize the de-choking of nearly 4,000 trees by February 23. This directive comes as part of preparations for submitting an affidavit to the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, ahead of a scheduled hearing on February 27.
High-Power Committee Review and Pending Work Details
The review was conducted during a meeting of the high-power committee, established in response to the High Court's directives in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). Sources revealed that the pending numbers vary significantly across agencies, with some having approximately 500 trees left to de-choke, while others report between 10 and 100 trees under their jurisdiction. Commissioner Bidari has scheduled another review meeting on February 23 to assess progress before finalizing the affidavit.
High Court's Observations and Timeline for Completion
In its February 6 order, the High Court noted that, according to the divisional commissioner's report, 4,490 trees were identified as choked, along with 4,167 newly identified trees. The court observed that the total figure could potentially reach around 9,000 trees and emphasized that the de-choking work should be completed within 15 days. Officials have stated that the February 23 meeting will serve as a final review to ensure all remaining tasks are completed within the court's stipulated timeline.
Key Points:
- Nearly 4,000 trees remain to be de-choked across Nagpur, with a strict deadline set for February 23.
- Divisional Commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari is overseeing the effort through a high-power committee formed per High Court orders.
- The Bombay High Court has highlighted that up to 9,000 trees may require attention, mandating completion within 15 days from its February 6 ruling.
- A final review meeting on February 23 will precede the submission of an affidavit to the court before the hearing on February 27.
This initiative underscores the city's commitment to environmental preservation and compliance with judicial directives, aiming to mitigate the adverse effects of choked trees on urban ecosystems.
