Archive · 27 Dec 2025
Bhopal Loses 60 Crore Litres of Oxygen as 1,500 Trees Felled for Road Widening
In Bhopal, India, more than 1,500 trees were cut down to make a road wider.
These trees were very old, some up to 40 years, and they helped the city by giving it lots of fresh air.
Experts say the city has lost a huge amount of oxygen because of this.
People in Bhopal are very upset and protested by hugging the remaining trees.
The government says they will plant new trees to make up for the ones that were cut down, but it will take four years.
Some people think the government did not follow the rules when they cut the trees, and this could make the air dirtier and cause health problems.
Over 1,500 trees were felled for a road-widening project on the Ayodhya Bypass in Bhopal, resulting in a loss of 60 crore litres of oxygen.
The trees, aged between 10 and 40 years, were generating nearly 4.05 lakh litres of oxygen daily.
Public protests, including a Chipko-style protest, were held to oppose the tree felling, with residents alleging contempt of court and environmental negligence.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a stay order on December 22, but tree felling continued until December 24.
NHAI has proposed a compensatory plantation plan to offset the ecological damage, with 10 saplings to be planted for every tree cut, totaling 81,000 saplings.
- Who
- National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Bhopal residents
- What
- Felling of 1,500 trees for road widening, leading to oxygen loss and public protests
- When
- Tree felling continued until December 24 despite a stay order from December 22
- Where
- Ayodhya Bypass, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- Why
- For a road-widening project by NHAI
- Number of Trees Felled
- 1,500
- Estimated Oxygen Loss
- 60 crore litres
- Age of Trees
- 10 to 40 years
- Daily Oxygen Production per Tree
- 270 litres
- Compensatory Plantation Plan
- 10 saplings per tree felled
- Total Saplings to be Planted
- 81,000
- NGT Stay Order Date
- December 22
- NGT Stay Order Validity
- Until January 8
