Environmental Damage Caused by Hubballi-Dharwad Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) & Citizens' struggle...
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www.rastr.in Tel: +91.9916135836, +91.9886024990 email: [email protected]
May 09, 2013
Public Release
Environmental Damage Caused by the BRTS Project andCitizens Struggle for Sustainable Development
Rashtrotthan Sankalp Trust (RASTR)
has taken up the cause to set right
the environmental damage caused
by the widening of the highway
between Hubballi and Dharwad for
the Bus Rapid Transit System
(BRTS) under the name
Mission 4000 Trees. Various CivilSociety Organisations,
environmentalists and citizens have
joined hands in this cause. On the
one hand, we are compelling the
government and other agencies to
compensate for the environmental
damage caused by the project funded by the World Bank and on the other, we are creating
awareness on this grave environmental issue among the citizens through public meetings,
leaflet distribution, signature campaign, awareness in educational institutions, etc. The
following is an account of the campaign of the citizens till date to protect the environment of
the Hubballi-Dharwad region against blind and rampant concretization and preserve it forfuture generations!
The 19.4 km highway between Hosur, Hubballi and Jubilee Circle, Dharwad in the twin-cities
of Hubballi-Dharwad coming under State Highway 73 (SH-73), is being widened to 8 lanes
by Hubballi-Dharwad BRTS Co. Ltd. RASTR has obtained information pertaining to the
project through various means including conversations with officials, through the Right to
Information (RTI) Act, 2005 and the websites of various agencies. Some important
documents may be found on our website http://rastr.in/M4KTrees.html.
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www.rastr.in Tel: +91.9916135836, +91.9886024990 email: [email protected]
Originally, the project scope was to widen the existing road between Hubballi and Dharwad
to 4 lanes by KRDCL (http://www.krdcl.in). The contract was awarded to GVR Infra Projects
Ltd., Chennai (http://www.gvrinfra.com/) at a price of Rs. 119.11 crores. The Security
Deposit made by the Contractor is about Rs. 6 crores. The bids for the project were called in
Aug. 2010. The execution commenced on 30-Apr-2011 and was scheduled to be completed
by 29-Apr-2013. There was a Defect Liability period of 1 year after completion of the project,
during which the contractor is obligated to repair the road for any defects found, failing which
the Security Deposit may be forfeited. There was a further Maintenance Period of 2 years
after the Defect Liability Period of 1 year.
At present, there is confusion in the entire project. Now Hubballi-Dharwad BRTS have taken
over the project. It is now proposed to make the road 8 lane wide. It is pathetic that the
proponents of BRTS and 8 lane road between the twin cities did not explore the use of the
existing railway line between the two cities. Use of the railway line (with necessary
upgrades) which is within 100 meters of the proposed BRTS would have been not only
economical but would have also prevented the irreparable damage caused to the local
ecology. Railway as a mass rapid transit system is far less polluting than automobile based
transport that the 8-lane highway will encourage.
The State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA)
(http://www.seiaa.kar.nic.in) constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forest,
Government of India, has accorded Environmental Clearance (EC) to the project with the
condition to plant about 4000 trees along the newly constructed highway as a
compensation to the trees that are cut for the road widening. KRDCL has paid the Forest
Department Rs. 27.24 lakhs only at a rate of Rs. 717 only per tree as compensatory
afforestation charges.
Contractors pull down hundreds of Giant Trees along the
Highway
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www.rastr.in Tel: +91.9916135836, +91.9886024990 email: [email protected]
Dead Trunk of a magnificent
ancient tree
However, there are certain serious issues concerned with this matter as listed below:
1. Nearly 1800 fully grown trees which were part of the culture and heritage of Dharwad-
Hubballi were destroyed to make way for the project.
2. All the 1800 trees were auctioned off to contractors for a paltry consideration of Rs. 9
lakh only.
3. These 1800 trees destroyed included native trees of various types such as Neem,
Banyan, Mango, Tamarind, Pipal, etc. with girth (trunk diameter) greater than 1meter. Hundreds of them had a girth of 4 - 5 meters.
4. Many trees were hundreds of years old and were part of several generations of
citizens of the twin city. They were shelter to numerous species of birds and other
fauna.
5. Each tree is estimated to pump as much oxygen into the atmosphere as required
by 10 human beings. Thus, oxygen required for nearly 20,000 people in the twin
city is no more available after cutting of these trees. The damage done to the
habitat of the fauna (animals and insects) dependent on these trees is not counted by
the government.
6. A fully grown tree is estimated to cost about Rs. 50,000 per year in terms of itseconomical / ecological value. We would be losing Rs. 9 crores every year as a result
of axing these 1800 fully grown trees. In twenty years, the loss would be about
Rs. 180 crores
7. Thus the compensatory afforestation charge of Rs. 27.24 lakh is in fact no
compensation to the huge ecological damage done to the environment of the twin-
city.
8. There is no space available on either side of the proposed road to take up avenue
plantation, as private properties abut the highway.
9. Keeping these issues aside, it
is shocking to know thatneither KRDCL, nor H-D
BRTS Co. Ltd., nor the
Forest Department, Dharwad
have any firm plans in place
for the compensatory
afforestation. In written
replies to RTI queries, all the
agencies have passed the
buck to each other.
10. Further, the trees even if
planted, will take years to grow
to live independently. There
are neither any provisions nor
plans to shelter the trees or
care for them until they grow
up.
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www.rastr.in Tel: +91.9916135836, +91.9886024990 email: [email protected]
A meeting of the Civil Society on
Mission 4000 Trees, H-D
Environmental Experts including Shri Suresh Heblikar, Eco Watch,
http://www.ecowatchindia.org/have condemned this act of rampant cutting of the trees along
the highway between Hubballi and Dharwad will affect the sensitive environment of this
region resulting in adverse impact to Soil, Climate and the Rainfall. In addition, ground water
resources also would be affected. It will affect the Bio Diversity of the region, thereby
affecting the Agricultural and Horticultural crops too. The temperature will soar adding to the
electricity bills. Hubballi-Dharwad is experiencing the shortage of water invariably. The loss
of tree cover will further worsen the situation by critically disturbing the hydrological pattern
and groundwater especially. For a lot of agricultural families, people who sell mangoes and
guavas and fodder, and also shepherds, these trees were the shelter. Also, the migratory
birds, aquatic birds took shelter on these trees. The bird population will also dwindle
affecting pollination and the local biodiversity. In fact, lot of these trees would have been
saved and still the road could have been widened. All said and done the precious
environment has already been affected thus resulting in future economic fallout. Added to
this, there would be more pollution caused by the increased traffic as a result of widening the
road.
The so-called Environmental Management Plan published on the website of the DULT and
H-D BRTS Co. Ltd. (http://stg1.kar.nic.in/urbantransport/HD_Reports.html) has no mention
of the tree cutting and compensatory afforestation or avenue plantation. The BRTS Co. is
also misleading the World Bank and violating the Central Governments directions.
Considering such serious lapses by KRDCL, H-D BRTS Co. Ltd. as well as the Karnataka
Forest Department, RASTR had appealed the SEIAA to reconsider the matter and issue
appropriate directions to KRDCL / Forest Department including:
1. Increased Compensatory Afforestation requirement
2. Directing KRDCL / Forest Department to publish a draft plan of compensatory
afforrestationimmediately. This must include:
a. Number and types /species of trees to beplanted
b. Location of trees tobe planted
c. Watering andProtection to beprovided to thesaplings againstanimals
d. Time-table / schedulefor various activities
e. Long-term care andnurturing to each of theplants, defining thenumber of years the saplings will be watered, protected and cared for /maintained.
3. Form a five member Observers Teamwith representation from Environmental Experts
and Civil Society to participate in the Compensatory Afforestation drive and to monitor
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www.rastr.in Tel: +91.9916135836, +91.9886024990 email: [email protected]
Civil Society meeting with the
Conservator of Forest, Dharwad
and make appropriate recommendations to the authorities / agencies concerned to
make the compensatory afforrestation plan successful.
RASTR has taken up this cause under the name Mission 4000 Trees. Various Civil Society
Organisations, environmentalists and citizens have pledged their support to this cause
already. Civil society has been creating awareness on this grave environmental issue among
the citizens through sessions in schools, colleges, institutions and on the internet. Till date
over 10,000 signatures have been collected on a petition to the Chief Minsiter. On linesignatures are available at http://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/plant-4000trees-along-
hubballi-dharwad-brts-highway. Over 3000 children belonging to various schools in the twin-
cities have signed a special petition to the CM to intervene and save the environment in a
campaign led by CMCA
(http://www.cmcaindia.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80&Itemid=60#)
Civil society representatives have held several meetings since 2012 and have visited the
Commissioner of Department of Urban Land Transport (DULT), Govt. of Karnatak, the M.D.
of KRDCL, the Conservator of Forest, Dharwad, the D.C of Dharwad and the M.D of H-D
BRTS to press for compensation to the environment. The citizens have also met the CM in
this regard.The Demands put forth by the Citizens are as follows:
1. Publish a plan to take up Compensatory Afforestation at least at the rate of planting 10
native trees for every tree destroyed by the project i.e. plant 20,000 trees in Hubballi-
Dharwad as compensation.
2. Display the Environmental Clearance on boards prominently at the project site.
3. Publish a plan of Avenue Plantation immediately. This must include:
a. Address,
Telephone, FAX,
email & websiteof the Agency /
Official
responsible for
the Avenue
Plantation for this
project
b. Area / land
identified for the
Avenue
Plantationc. Number and types / species of trees to be planted
d. Specification of Protection / fencing / tree-guard to be provided to the saplings
against cattle and other animals
e. Watering and Manuring
f. Time-table / schedule for various activities
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www.rastr.in Tel: +91.9916135836, +91.9886024990 email: [email protected]
Milestones / Chronology of events:
c. 2010: MLA, Hubbali-Dharwad Central and Chief
Minister, Jagadish Shettars pet project to widen
highway between Hubballi & Dharwad starts, but
without any consultation with the Citizens of the twin-
cities.
Apr-2011: KRDCL awards contract to widen the
highway between Hubballi & Dharwad to 4 lanes
Jun-2011: Forest department auctioned off 1800 age
old trees, which were integral part of the culture of
Dharwad-Hubballi, to timber contractors for a paltry
sum of Rs. 9 lakhs. Hundreds of magnificent trees that
adored the highway were brought down to ground
without any firm plans for compensation!
Aug-2011: Environmental Clearance received for the
project; One of the conditions is to grow 4000 trees
along the highway
May-2012: RASTR writes to SEIAA regarding no
plans for avenue plantation and other violations of
Environmental Clearance; RASTR obtains information
on the project through RTI and other means
Oct to Dec-2012: Several meetings of Civil Society
organised
Oct-2012: Civil society demands KRDCL, Forest
Department and Department of Urban Land Transport
to compensate the ecological damage.
Oct. 2012: Signature campaign begins; Over 10,000
signatures collected on a petition to the CM.
Jan. 2013: KRDCL transfers responsibility of the
project to H-D BRTS Co. Ltd.
May. 2013: RASTR complains to World Bank, which is
financing the HD-BRTS upto Rs. 500 crores, that the
DULT / HD-BRTS Companys Environment
Management Plan (EMP) does make mention of the
1800 trees destroyed for the project.
Till Date: H-D BRTS Co. Ltd. has no firm plans of
avenue plantation or compensatory afforestation but
only promises in air to take the citizens for a ride!
g. Long-term care and nurturing to each of the plants, defining the number of years
the saplings will be watered, protected and cared for / maintained.
4. Form a five member
Observers Team
with representation
from Environmental
Experts and CivilSociety to
participate in the
Avenue Plantation
and Compensatory
Afforestation drive
and to monitor and
make appropriate
recommendations to
the authorities to
make the
compensatory
afforestation and
Avenue Plantation
plan successful.
In response, HDBRTS Co.
and all government
agencies have so far paid
only lip service leaving
the compensatory
afforrestation and Avenue
plantation in limbo. In arecent meeting of citizens
with BRTS M.D., Noor
Mansoor, on 15-Feb-2013,
the company made claims
of planting 30,000 trees and
developing the ponds at
Bhairidevarakoppa and
Rayapur which are almost
destroyed due to the
project, but could produce
no concrete evidence of
any steps taken to make
the plantation a reality. The
engineering cross-section
drawings of the 8-lane
highway have no locations identified for avenue plantation.
Added to this there are inherent problems with BRTS. There is no space on either side of the
proposed alignment for avenue plantation. The BRTS Company has failed to produce
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cross-section plans of the road showing provisions for avenue plantation. The electric
poles / lines have not been planned to accommodate avenue plantation.
One of the biggest problems seems to be that of reconciling the old plan of 4 lane with the 8
lane BRTS. Only about 1 m median was planned for the original 4 lanes planned by KRDCL.
Many kilometers of work as per this plan has been completed with crores of rupees spent for
the concrete pavement. The CM is reported all set to inaugurate a stretch of the half
completed highway with an eye on the impending assembly elections. The BRTS, howeveris having a 4 meters wide median. No one knows what will happen to the crores of
rupees spent for the alignment with only 1 meter wide median space left at present, if
BRTS has to have 4 meter wide median.
RASTR has complained the World Bank, which is financing the HD-BRTS upto Rs. 500
crores, that the DULT / HD-BRTS Companys Environment Management Plan (EMP) does
not even make a mention of the 1800 trees destroyed for the project, nor does it speak of
even one tree to be planted in compensation, far from the claim of 30,000 trees made by
HD-BRTS Co.
The Citizens led by RASTR are determined to make Avenue plantation as envisaged in the
Environmental Clearance and the Compensatory Afforestation a reality before thecommissioning of the widened road / BRTS. More vigorous campaign is planned in the
future and the civil society is gearing up to take the movement to the next level including
intensified protests and exploring legal action. A huge Awareness and Protest March of
citizens is planned on 5-June of the occasion of the World Environment Day. Citizens
are requested and expected to join this campaign to preserve a better environment for
themselves and present a greener future for their children!
Jai Hind!
(Santosh P. Nargund)
Adhyaksha,
Rashtortthan Sankalp Trust
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