Bhopal?s green cover is dwindling due to development initiatives, with government agencies like the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), public works department (PWD), and the power distribution company being held responsible.

Despite being tasked with safeguarding the city's greenery, BMC, PWD, and the power discom have prioritised infrastructure and power distribution over environmental conservation, resulting in significant ecological losses. Environmentalist Nitin Saxena highlighted the absence of green waste management mechanisms and criticised the power discom for indiscriminately chopping trees without proper disposal.

This trend has adverse effects on the city's aesthetics, local climate, air quality, and biodiversity. Recent incidents, such as the inappropriate trimming of trees in Roshanpura and the controversial directive allegedly from BMC ward 32 corporator Aarti Aneja?s husband, Raju Aneja, have sparked public outrage.

Residents affected by such actions are demanding accountability from authorities. Past instances, like the unrecorded felling of trees instructed by Aneja and the PWD's proposal to chop trees along Shahpura Bawadia Kalan Road, indicate a concerning trend of disregarding environmental concerns for development projects.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) intervened by issuing a stay order against the PWD's plan, following a petition from Sanidhya Jain, highlighting growing community concern over environmental degradation in Bhopal.

(Source: ET)