Surat : Environmentalists Rally to Save Trees in Katargam GIDC

Surat :  Environmentalists and tree enthusiasts have raised their voices against the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) for granting permission to fell approximately 275 mature trees in the Katargam GIDC area to make way for the construction of a cement concrete (CC) road.

While the long-neglected roads in Katargam GIDC are finally being rebuilt after years of disrepair, the environmental community is disheartened that this progress comes at the cost of cherished, age-old trees. According to environmentalists, the SMC’s Garden department has already felled about 70 fully grown trees to make room for the CC road.

Environmentalists have registered their concerns with SMC officials, including Mayor Daxesh Mavani, and implored them to consider the preservation of the trees in Katargam GIDC.

Jigisha Choksi, an environmentalist, expressed her concern, stating that municipal authorities have been urged to save the trees that extend about one and a half feet beyond the road’s perimeter. This appeal has also been presented to office bearers, including the mayor. Over 70 trees have already been felled during tree-cutting operations, and Choksi emphasized the importance of adopting a proactive approach to protect the environment.

“The SMC’s Garden department officials have indicated that permission has been granted to cut 275 trees for the construction of the CC road in Katargam GIDC. All these trees are over 50 years old and play a vital role in environmental protection. With around 70 trees already cut down, we aim to save the remaining 200 trees,” said Jigisha Choksi, an environmental activist affiliated with numerous NGOs in Surat.

Choksi pointed out that the road is 16 feet wide, and the trees are hindering the construction of the drainage network. In response, the environmentalists have proposed an alternative solution to the SMC: construct the underground drainage network in the middle of the road instead of resorting to tree removal.