Authorities agree to make up for loss of 10,000 trees in project
Authorities agree to make up for loss of 10,000 trees in project
Environmental activists have given their go-ahead for the widening of the Pune-Solapur highway. The project will involve axing about 10,000 trees. The resolution was taken on Friday at the Collector's Office in Bund Garden in the presence of officials from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Deputy Collector Parag Soman and officials from IL&FS, which is the consultant for the project. 
Keeping it green: Authorities say they will plant fast-growing trees
beside the road once it is widened. Representation pic
The public hearing was conducted after several citizens had raised environmental concerns, and their queries and demands were addressed in the hearing. As around 10,000 trees will have to be felled for the project, citizens have demanded fast-growing trees be planted to compensate for the loss of green cover. Citizens have also demanded that the maintenance and caretaking responsibility be undertaken by either government authorities or the contractor.
The project will cost around Rs 800 crore, which will involve both six- and eight-laning of a 100-km stretch near Madha taluka in Solapur district. Authorities have agreed to plant trees beside the newly constructed roads and Rs 2 crore has been specially set aside for the re-plantation as well the maintenance for the next 20 years.
The work is set to start in the next five to six months and will benefit around 5,000 vehicles from the city that ply to Solapur everyday.
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