22/04/2013
Golf Course Rd loses green cover, thanks to widening plan::
GURGAON: While Delhi is seriously working towards retaining its greenery by redoing its design of expansion of Vasant Kunj road between Andheria Mor and Mahipalpur, authorities in Gurgaon seem to be turning a blind eye towards the plight of Golf Course Road, which over the months has completely lost its green cover, thanks to the multi-crore road widening project being executed with public-private partnership.
A drive along this road between Cyber City up to Sector 55-56 roundabout reflects the apathy of the departments which did not even think twice to seek permission (HUDA) and grant permission (forest department) for such destruction of foliage.
Though no one has been able to answer who requires such a wide 16-lane road when the existing road has been sufficient to cater to the traffic needs, permission to fell 1,291 trees has been granted.
Union forests minister Jayanthi Natarajan had last week said: “A tree with 60 cm girth takes 100 years to grow. We cannot have compensatory afforestation…” The widening is proposed between Sikanderpur and junction of Golf Course Extension road which is dotted with properties of a major city realtor on both the sides. Urban experts, however, question that such a wide carriageway, without proper entry exit points and junctions like NH-8 on one end and the extension road on the other, will only act as a choke point.
Meanwhile, permission to fell another 1,057 trees has been given while another 300 await nod for expansion of phase II of Rapid Metro.
According to a real estate giant, which recently transplanted over a dozen trees in its Golf Course, it costs Rs 50,000 to transplant a tree and ensure its survival. This is in stark contrast to the Rs 157 per tree fixed by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for transplantation. The forest department too seems convinced with promises made by the authority and private developers for planting 10 saplings for each tree axed, which means 23,480 trees needs to be planted just for this single road expansion project.
The question is whether in Gurgaon, where land is already scarce, such massive compensatory plantation is possible. According to statistics, an acre (4,840 square yard) can accommodate close to 450 saplings, planted at the optimum distance of 3 metres.
Environmentalists say that chopping of such a huge number of trees will lead to destruction of the region’s micro-ecosystem. When asked, a forest official said, “We are issuing notices to all defaulters and will seek information of the compensatory plantation being carried out.” Issuing notices to “defaulters”, however, is a routine with the forest department.
A city-based NGO – Haryali- has written to the chief minister’s office to act immediately to stop felling of more trees on this road and that the departments concerned ensure compensatory plantation. The NGO has also suggested that the department should seek prior information about where compensatory plantation would take place before granting permission.
“It’s not clear why HUDA and the private partner need widening of road from 60-78 metres even when the project has not yet started. Also, why the trees on the central verge have been cut. It seems that the government does not want to understand or is playing puppet in the hands of the builders,” said Vivek Khamboj, founder of Haryali.
When the project’s private partner was asked about the felling of trees and transplantation, it passed the buck to HUDA. “With no trees, high speed traffic and increase in noise levels on of the proposed 16-lane Golf Course road expressway, we sure will need new hospitals in Gurgaon,” said Nisha Singh, MCG councillor.
“Increasing urbanization in Gurgaon is leading to micro climatic changes,” said environmental analyst Chetan Agarwal, adding that in this scenario preserving and expanding trees along streets as well as securing urban forests such as the Aravali belt along the Golf Course road will go a long way in mitigating the impact of the rampant urbanization.
The conservator forest, south circle, Pankaj Goel, refused to comment on the matter.
