Mango tree vs waste management plant: PCB yet to decide

“We have not yet firmed up our recommendation,” said Yashpal Singh,director of the panel. The Jal Nigam has been asked to answer a few more queries. Once the clarifications come,we will be in a better position to send our reports to the government.”

Dashehari village in Kakori is the birthplace of the famous Dashehari mango. The village also has the oldest tree,which,according to folklore,is the mother of all Dashehari mango trees.

The solid waste disposal project is planned over 35 hectares in villages of Dashehari,Sikhrori,Raipur,Bhamroli and Salempur Patora.

The Lucknow Development Authority has been trying to acquire the land. But following objections from farmers,a committee was formed to decide the impact of the project on the environment.

The Central Institute of Sub-Tropical Horticulture (CISH) at Kakori and the state Horticulture Department were asked to submit reports and a public hearing was held by the Pollution Control Board.

In its report,CISH had mentioned that since the project site is “within 100 metres of Dashehari village surrounded by mango orchards and the original mother plant of Dashehari is located in the village,” the project may be shifted three to four km to avoid any threat to the Malihabadi Dashehari mango. “Any major shift in the microclimate of this area may adversely affect the genetic make of this mother plant,” it added.

In UPPCB’s public hearing on the subject,over 30 points were raised. “We have asked the Jal Nigam to send a detailed project report,” Singh said. Official sources said the Jal Nigam has been asked to clarify how it planned to save groundwater and soil quality once the project is established.

On Sunday,the villagers of Dashehari held a meeting and decided not to give their land to the LDA.

“The LDA initially offered us Rs 15 lakh per bigha,then offered Rs 9 lakh,” said Susheel Kumar,a villager. “Ten days ago,the LDA officials threatened that if we do not give our lands at Rs 4.6 lakh per bigha,they will acquire it forcefully within two weeks and deposit the amount in the government treasury. The land is fertile and at least 3,000 mango trees will have to be chopped off for the project. None of us is ready to part with our land.”