3,000 trees to be felled for road widening in Prayagraj

PWD HAS SENT A LETTER TO THE FOREST DEPT FOR REMOVING THE TREES FROM SHASTRI BRIDGE TO HANDIA FOLLOWING

WHICH THE ROAD WIDENING PROJECT WILL BE STARTED.

Around 3,000 more trees may soon face the axe for road widening project proposed on Prayagraj-Handia road. Forest department will start survey for felling the trees in a few days.

The distance between Prayagraj city to Handia is around 40 km. The trees, which are on the way, will be cut down for widening the road which is a part of Prayagraj-Varanasi highway.

Public works department has sent a letter to the forest department on removing the trees from Shastri Bridge to Handia following which the road widening project will be started.

Divisional forest officer YP Shukla said a survey was being carried out on the road following which the trees will be felled within three months for Prayagraj-Varanasi Highway four lane.

“It is estimated that around 3000 trees have to be felled for the project,” he added. During the last five years, over 22,000 trees have been felled for road widening projects and other development works in different areas of Prayagraj. The areas include Civil Lines, Teliarganj, Kanpur Road, Daraganj, Rewa Road and other areas. At least 1500 trees from Soraon to Balson are also being felled for road widening.

However, forest department officials said even as trees were being felled for development works, lakhs of new saplings were also planted during last five years. The department regularly watered the saplings and took care of them and they had now grown into trees. Massive plantation drives have been carried out across the district, including on Rewa road, Meja, Naini, Parade ground and other areas. The department also carried out awareness drives urging people to plant saplings and preserve trees in their localities, officials added.