An organisation working for animal welfare has demanded strict action against the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for flouting Supreme Court directives by not planting three times the number of trees cut during road widening of Chittorgarh-Bhilwara-Kota highway six months ago.
In a fax message sent yesterday to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Chief Forest Conservator Abhijit Ghosh, incharge of Rajasthan unit's People for Animals, Babulal Jaju has drawn attention to this effect about the NHAI's alleged flouting of the apex court directives and felling of 36,000 trees.
Giving details, Jaju said that 13,927 trees were axed in the Bhilwara district; 9,798 at Chittorgarh and 2,186 were cut in Bundi district.
"It is mandatory for everyone as per the SC order to plant three times the number of trees it cut during road widening," he said.
When contacted, AK Mishra GM (E-W) of NHAI said that they have obtained proper permission of cutting trees from the forest department and district administration of Kota, Bhilwara and Chittorgarh.
He said that the trunks of the trees cut have been deposited with the state government.
Steps have been initiated for plantation and already about 90 lakh saplings alloted for Kota belt alone for plantation, Mishra said.
The NHAI official also said that there is a proper procedure of getting estimation from the forest department before plantation.
