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Friday, October 31, 2008

New 'chipko movement' to axe AMC tree-felling plan?


AHMEDABAD: In tree-starved Bapunagar and Odhav, this is the last remaining patch of
green. But now, the trees, standing tall for over 70 years, are ready to be felled due to a road expansion by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Residents have now threatened to do a chipko movement if AMC tries to cut these trees lined along the 500-metre stretch.

Anticipating an AMC team, the residents here have even formed a squad that would be up late in the night, in case the civic body tries to bring down the trees. There are close to 200 trees along the Rakhial road and the stretch along Odhav road. Some trees like tamarind and neem trees are over 70 years old.

Residents of the seven odd chawls here had even suggested that a portion of the road which also includes the tree stretch could be converted to a shady public footpath. AMC officials, along with a team of contractors assigned for the job, had even asked the residents to give the suggestion in writing.

Read on
The painting is by Nancy Merkle

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