Visakhapatnam: As many as 7,020 trees are being removed for the laying of National Highway-516, which will connect Rajamahendravaram to Vizianagaram, but clarity eludes the replacement afforestation drive.
This highway, as per the plan, passes through the Chintapalli division and then will be expanded from Kakarapadu to Vanjari, in the Visakhapatnam district.
The vegetation that is being cleared mainly consists of teak trees in the reserve forest.
Chintapalli divisional forest officer Chittapuli Suryanarayana told Deccan Chronicle that the tree removal operation is going on in a 60-hectare area, where 6,620 trees have already been uprooted.
The removed trees are being transported to the temporary timber depot in Kakarapadu and the permanent timber depot at Lothugedda Junction.
In compensation, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has to carry out afforestation on 120 hectares in the Paderu division.
However, when asked, NHAI officials in Visakhapatnam failed to give any information on the afforestation works.
Additionally, Suryanarayana disclosed that 400 more trees are scheduled for removal.
He also stated that the NHAI will plant trees on both sides of the road after National Highway-516 is laid.
