PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Haridwar
More than 550 golden cypress trees, planted as part of a beautification project at a cost of approximately Rs one crore, have been removed with the Haridwar-Roorkee Development Authority (HRDA) VIP corridor, developed a few months ago from Chandracharya Chowk to Dam Kothi, now being widened. This raises questions over the necessity of changing plans in such a short time, causing crores of government funds go down the drains.
Notably, extensive garden and beautification work was carried out by the HRDA to enhance the attractiveness of the route from Chandracharya Tiraha to Dam Kothi. These projects included the planting of a large number of golden cypress trees, along with fountains, railings, light poles, wall-washing lights, art paintings, wall paintings and CNC cutting designs.
The purpose of these projects was to enhance the beauty of this major religious and tourist route.
Now, due to the ongoing widening work on this same road, the previously undertaken beautification work is being affected. The removal of a large number of trees has completely altered the roadside.
This raises a key question: why wasn’t the road widening coordinated with future infrastructure plans before spending crores on beautification and gardening?
Queried over the matter, the garden officer, HRDA, A R Joshi stated that the trees have been removed due to the road widening work. “However, the fountain and railings are still in place. The trees removed will be replanted on the same road after the construction is complete,” he added.
The observers, however, said that the issue is not limited to the removal of trees. “If the VIP corridor, developed just eight to nine months ago, now requires major changes, how much coordination existed between departments during the planning process?” an observer asked.
It remains to be seen how HRDA redevelops this VIP corridor after the widening is complete, and how much of the facilities created with the previously spent funds remain in use.
