NGT steps in on tree cutting for road project in Mahabaleshwar’s eco-sensitive Western Ghats | Photo: Representative Image
Mumbai: An environmentalist from the eco-sensitive zone of Mahabaleshwar, a popular tourist destination, has approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the felling of numerous large trees under the pretext of road widening.
The application argues that since the proposed road widening involves the cutting of numerous trees of various species, the project lacks genuine public benefit and does not serve any real development purpose.
The NGT found merit in the submissions made by the complainant’s advocate and observed that a prima facie case of adverse environmental impact had been made. Consequently, the tribunal admitted the application filed by the environmentalist.
The NGT has directed the concerned authorities, including the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC), regional forest departments, and others, to file their responses in the case and present them before the tribunal by July 8, 2025.
The complaint was filed by environmentalist Bhau Madan Mehta, who stated that his team works for the protection and conservation of the environment and local culture in and around Wai.
“The town lies at the foothills of the Western Ghats, particularly the Pasarni Ghat, which leads westwards to the hill stations of Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar. The entire Mahabaleshwar Taluka has been declared an ‘Eco-Sensitive Zone.’ We are concerned about the ongoing road widening of the Surur–Wai road, which is being executed by the MSIDC and involves the cutting down of numerous trees lining the existing road,” the complaint reads.
It further states that the Range Forest Officer (RFO) and the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) were involved in granting permissions for tree cutting in the area.
“A proposal was submitted to the DCF for valuation of the trees to be felled along the Wai–Surur road for the purpose of widening. Accordingly, the DCF sanctioned the valuation of the trees in an order dated October 6, 2023. A significant portion of the road toward Mahabaleshwar and Konkan falls within a protected and eco-sensitive zone. Therefore, if we consider the 12-km stretch between Surur and Wai, there is no real scope for road widening beyond the foot of the Pasarni Ghat (i.e., Wai) to Poladpur — a distance of 95 km — as this entire section lies within protected Western Ghats ecology,” the complaint explains.
“Hence, widening just 12 km of a 107-km road, at the cost of cutting a large number of trees, would serve no practical purpose,” the complaint concludes.
