Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Over 1.5 lakh trees will be cut for the Mhow-Sanawad railway project as tracks are planned to be laid between Mhow and Mukhtiyara Balwada.
The project involves acquiring around 454 hectares of forest land from the Indore and Khargone forest divisions.
For every tree cut, the railway will plant ten new saplings, a process managed by the forest department with ₹50 crore allocated for plantation work. Saplings will be planted in the Dhar and Jhabua forest areas.
According to information, the Indore forest division will face the biggest impact, with nearly 1.4 lakh trees marked for cutting in the Mhow forest range and 15,000 more in the Barwah range.
The forest department has completed its survey and sent the report to the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF).
After further review at the forest department headquarters, the plan will be sent to the Ministry of Forest and Environment for approval, which may take four to five months.
The Project Includes...
The railway project includes laying 56 km of single-line tracks. Though surveys for a double-line track were done earlier, work will begin only on the single line.
Indore forest division will provide 407 hectares of land, and Khargone will provide 46 hectares. While the land won’t be permanently transferred, the railway must pay ₹59.2 crore as compensation at ₹13 lakh per hectare.
The forest department will handle cutting and transporting the wood, with the railway covering the estimated ₹20 crore cost.
For every tree cut, the railway will plant ten new saplings, a process managed by the forest department with ₹50 crore allocated for plantation work. Saplings will be planted in the Dhar and Jhabua forest areas.
Indore Divisional Forest Officer Pradeep Mishra confirmed the forest survey is complete and trees have been marked for the project.
