A massive environmental violation has surfaced in the Neelbad area of Bhopal, where approximately 700 trees were felled in the catchment area to make way for a cricket stadium and road construction, without obtaining the mandatory environmental and planning clearances. The cricket stadium, part of a large infrastructure project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, is currently under construction. However, in a blatant bypass of protocol, neither approval from the Town and Country Planning (T&CP) Department nor an environmental impact assessment was secured before the deforestation began. According to environmental regulations, any construction activity that requires the cutting of more than 25 trees must go through a thorough evaluation process. This includes a site inspection and approval from a committee formed under the Environment Planning and Coordination Organization (EPCO). However, in this case, no such assessment was done, raising serious concerns about the ecological damage caused. This is a classic case of development overriding sustainability. Cutting down hundreds of trees in a sensitive catchment area without following due procedure is not just irresponsible—it is illegal, said Nitin Saxena, an environmental expert, who initiated the proceedings against the illegal felling of trees. Such actions not only damage biodiversity but also affect groundwater recharge and increase the risk of urban flooding. He informed that the next hearing in the petition is July 23 and the agencies have to submit reports. Following the mounting public pressure, the district administration has constituted a four-member committee to investigate the issue. The committee will assess whether permissions were sought, whether an environmental assessment was conducted, and if the tree cutting was genuinely unavoidable. A senior forest department official, requesting anonymity, confirmed, We had not issued any clearance for cutting such a large number of trees. The proposal never reached us. This is a serious violation. The stadium is expected to cost between Rs 70 to 100 crore and is aimed at hosting international cricket matches in the future. Currently, significant construction work has already been completed. A road leading to the stadium was also laid, contributing to the widespread tree removal in the catchment zone. Environmentalists warn that if such violations go unchecked, it could set a dangerous precedent for future infrastructure projects. Urban development must be aligned with environmental sustainability, Nitin Saxena said, adding, Otherwise, we will continue to pay the price in the form of extreme weather, water scarcity, and loss of biodiversity. The committees report is awaited and could determine whether penal action will be taken against the developers and whether corrective environmental measures will be enforced.

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