Aaditya Thackeray Tweets After Sangli Freeway Plan Modified To Save 400-Yr-Outdated Tree: Keeper Of Legends

Mumbai:

A 400-year-old banyan tree that was within the centre of a protest in opposition to a freeway mission in Maharashtra’s Sangli district will stay unhurt, Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray introduced in a tweet at this time.

Mr Thackeray mentioned that the Nationwide Freeway Authority of India (NHAI) has shelved plans to chop the tree which was coming within the path of a highway development mission. As a substitute the NHAI will realign the freeway near the tree, he mentioned.

“The 400 12 months previous banyan tree in Sangli district that we saved with a letter to @NHAI_Official. One can see the freeway near the tree. That, now will likely be realigned to avoid wasting the tree. The tree is a keeper of legends, folklore and recollections of many who performed there as youngsters,” he tweeted.

The 400 12 months previous banyan tree in Sangli district that we saved with a letter to @NHAI_Official . One can see the freeway near the tree. That, now will likely be realigned to avoid wasting the tree. The tree is a keeper of legends, folklore and recollections of many who performed there as youngsters. pic.twitter.com/e8AcIhZm8h

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) July 24, 2020

The NHAI had deliberate to cut of the 400-year-old tree — whose cover is unfold over 400 sq mt — for the Ratnagiri-Solapur freeway mission, triggering protests from environmentalists and villagers. The moments additionally noticed activists gathering across the tree as a type of Chipko motion to guard it.

“The NHAI was getting ready to chop off the tree for the Ratnagiri-Solapur freeway mission. We began Chipko motion whereas maintaining social-distancing in thoughts to avoid wasting the tree. Taking not of our motion, Atmosphere Minister Aaditya Thackeray wrote to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who took be aware of this and instructed officers to not minimize the tree,” mentioned Praveen Shinde, an environmental activist.

The motion noticed residents sharing, importing pictures of the tree on social media in an try to point out how extensive the branches of the tree unfold. A few of these movies featured monkeys and different species on its branches to focus on that giant variety of animals have made it their dwelling.