Jammu: Over 21,000 trees will be axed in Jammu and Reasi forest and Wildlife divisions for Delhi-Katra Expressway.
The information in this regard has been provided by the National Highway Authority of India.
In reply to a Right to Information plea by Jammu-based RTI activist Raman Sharma, the NHAI has informed that a total of 21483 trees are to be chopped down between Kunjwani to Sidhra and Sidhra to Ban Toll sections of the Jammu-Katra Expressway.
The NHAI reply given on June 23 revealed that 11946 will be axed under Jammu Forest Division for Kunjwani to Sidhra Section, 1781 trees for the Sidhra to Ban Toll Section out of which 746 fall under the Jammu Wildlife Division.
Under the jurisdiction of forest division Reasi, 7756 trees need to be removed between Domel and Katra sections.
The RTI reply also informed that so far out of 21483 trees that had been earmarked for removal, 8150 have already been felled, out of which 7000 have been axed between Kunjwani to Sidhra section (Jammu forest division) and 1150 between Sidhra to Ban Toll, Nagrota. Between Domel to Katra section so far no tree is uprooted yet.
The documents served to activist Raman Sharma by Project Director, NHAI, PIU Udhampur also disclosed that over 716 kanals (36.2511 hectares) of Forest Land belonging to Jammu and Reasi Forest divisions shall be diverted for non-forestry purposes that would be used for construction of Jammu-Katra ExpressWay. There is also a provision for compensatory afforestation for degraded forest land for which the funds shall be provided by the user agency.