Nagpur High Court Criticizes NMC Over Repeated Tree Choking The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Thursday condemned the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for its persistent failure to protect urban trees from being re-encased in concrete during infrastructure projects. The court highlighted recent incidents in areas like Narendra Nagar and Civil Lines, where trees were allegedly choked again with concrete despite prior directives. The bench, comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode, expressed frustration over the civic body’s negligence, stating that it showed neither concern for the survival of trees nor accountability for public funds spent on unchoking drives. The court’s intervention followed two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed by Sharad Patil and others, which sought the removal of concrete around trees and prevention of tree felling during development works. The judges noted that the NMC had been directed previously to remove concrete from trees regardless of which authority controlled the road or area. This directive came after an audit revealed that nearly 3,691 trees across Nagpur had been choked in concrete, severely impacting their growth and survival. During the hearing, the judges questioned the NMC’s oversight, emphasizing that civic officials were responsible for ensuring contractors adhered to guidelines and did not repeat violations. The court also demanded an explanation for the apparent lack of monitoring and accountability. Court-appointed amicus curiae advocate Radhika Bajaj pointed out that the city’s tree census report, mandated by earlier court orders, had not yet been submitted. The NMC responded by stating that tree census work in most zones had been completed.#nagpur #nagpur_municipal_corporation #sharad_patil #radhika_bajaj #nagpur_high_court
Bombay High Court Directs Nagpur Municipal Corporation to Remove Concrete from Trees The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has directed the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to fully remove concrete encasements from trees within the city, emphasizing that partial compliance would not be acceptable. During a hearing on Tuesday, the bench, comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Raj Wakode, noted that while the NMC had already freed 2,569 of the 3,691 trees affected by concrete encasements, the court made it clear that complete removal was mandatory before the next scheduled hearing. The court also highlighted that the NMC had been granted sufficient time to address the issue and urged the civic body to submit proof of full compliance. The directive came during a joint hearing of two public interest litigations (PILs). One PIL was initiated suo motu by the court in 2018, while the other was filed by environmental expert Sharad Patil and others. These petitions sought to curb large-scale tree felling under the guise of development and ensure the removal of concrete that restricts natural tree growth. The court reiterated that the responsibility for removing concrete encasements lies with the NMC, regardless of which authority manages the roads. It also mandated that the respective authorities reimburse the civic body for any expenses incurred during the process. According to records presented in court, 3,360 of the affected trees fall under the NMC’s jurisdiction. During an earlier hearing, the bench had clarified that the NMC must take ownership of the task, even if road management is handled by other entities. The NMC submitted a progress report on Tuesday, detailing the work completed so far.#bombay_high_court #nagpur_municipal_corporation #nmc #sharad_patil #radhika_bajaj
