RTI reply hints at scam in tree felling on highway

The Times of India: Nagpur: Wednesday, July 04, 2012.

BJP leader from North Nagpur Surendra Yadav has alleged a scam in tree felling being done on large scale on Nagpur-Saoner-Betul national highway no-69. According to a reply to an RTI query, the average estimation of price of one tree on a stretch comes to Rs940 per tree while that on another is just Rs 97 per tree.

According to information obtained under RTI by Yadav's friend Surendra Singh, a citizen from North Nagpur, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had proposed to chop down 986 trees in the stretch of 11km on NH-69 from 3-14km mark. Similarly, the NHAI had proposed to cut down 3,916 trees in the stretch of 46 km between 14-59.30km mark. NHAI wrote a letter to the state forest department for giving an estimation of rates according to the variety and size of trees.

The forest department, Seminary Hills range, sent the data of tree-wise estimation of 986 trees to NHAI on April 5, 2010 while the data of 3,916 was given by forest department's Khapa range on July 13, 2010. The Seminary Hills range estimated the cost of 986 trees as Rs9,27,540. The Khapa Range estimated the cost of 3,916 trees as Rs3,81,655.

Yadav, president of BJP Yuva Morcha, North Nagpur unit, told TOI that the average estimation of 986 trees comes to Rs 940 per tree, while the average estimation of 3,916 trees comes to Rs97 per tree. "It is a big scam as the price of each tree other than teak is around Rs2,000 whereas that of teak is around Rs5,000. An inquiry should be conducted into the issue. I already submitted my complaints to the forest department and NHAI. We will stage an agitation if action not taken against the officials concerned," he said.

NHAI's project director Naresh Wadetwar told TOI that the NHAI is responsible for construction of roads. "Estimation of trees is done by the forest department. NHAI considered the data submitted by the forest department. Besides, the issue of NH-69 is related with NHAI's Pandhurna office," he said.

PK Mahajan, deputy conservator of forests, Nagpur division was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.