Nearly 2,800 trees to go for Himachal Pradesh 4-laning project

Ambika Sharma
Tribune News Service
Solan, February 16

As many as 2,793 trees will be axed for the Paonta Sahib-Hatkoti four-laning project as the apex court has allowed the diversion of forest land for 138 projects in the state.

The total road length is 149 km out of which 45-km stretch falls in Uttarakhand. The 104-km stretch of the road that falls in Himachal will be four-laned at a cost of Rs 1,351.62 crore.

• Also read: Edit: SC nod for HP projects

“As many as 2,793 trees will be axed for four-laning this road. This includes 1,454 trees in non-forest area and 1,339 in Renuka ji and Paonta Sahib forest area. Permission for axing trees in the non-forest area has already been accorded, while the SC verdict has paved the wave for the axing of trees in forest area,” said Ashok Chauhan, Conservator of Forests, Nahan.

“The apex court’s nod will enable us to hand over the land to the private firm that has been awarded the project. It is likely to be completed in 30 months after the work begins,” said an official in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The project is covered under the Green National Highways Corridor Project that aims at enhancing effectiveness of the transport network with cost and natural resource efficiency. The World Bank has provided assistance for the project. This road has key significance for the region.