GUNTUR: The road-widening works between Guntur and Amaravati are likely to cause ecological damage as the officials would remove trees along the route. In view of the construction of the Secretariat in the capital city Amaravati, the government would take up expansion of all the connecting roads in the near future. For this, a number of tamarind and other big trees existing along the road would be cut. The 5.5-mt road from Guntur to Amaravati will be expanded to 10 metres.
The road between Guntur and Amaravati will be developed with funds allocated for the Krishna Pushkaralu, said P. Maheswara Reddy, EE, Roads and Buildings department, Guntur division. The roads are being developed in view of the Pushkaralu and for future transportation needs to the Secretariat. "At present, the road is 5.5 mt wide at some places and 7 mt at other areas. This will be expanded uniformly to a 10-mt wide road," he said.
Meanwhile, environmentalists suggest that the government could develop the roads without removing the old trees. In Gujarat, Bengaluru and other areas, roads are being developed without removing trees and engineers can replicate the same here, said D. Tirupati Reddy, founder of Nature Club Network, Guntur, an NGO. He said it was ridiculous on the part of the officials to cut down trees on one had and on the other, plan to beautify the roads by planting saplings. He suggested that the government should think twice before cutting down trees.
