840 trees to be cut for Uran road-widening project

About 840 trees, which are in the way of the National Highway Authority of India's (NHAI) Uran road widening project, will be either cut or uprooted. The civic tree authority has permitted NHAI to cut 171 trees, while 671 trees will be replanted. The stretch from Belapur Killa to JNPT will be widened to six lanes.

According to Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation's (NMMC) garden department, NHAI sought NMMC's permission to cut trees, which are posing a hurdle for the project. Tushar Pawar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Garden) said NMMC granted permission to NHAI after the latter followed a complete procedure. "A majority of the trees will be replanted by NHAI," said Pawar. The planting of trees has been proposed around a pond at sector 26 in Nerul node. According to an NHAI official, the NHAI will look after the trees for the next three years.

Activists allege that the civic body had not followed the process before allowing trees to be cut for the project. However, NMMC officials said that the civic body had sought suggestions and objections from residents. "NMMC did not receive a single objection or suggestion," said a civic official. Even notices were put up on the trees, highlighting the intent to cut them for the project.

Interestingly, a few members of NMMC's tree committee alleged that the administration passed the proposal when most members were not in attendance. "The administration passed the proposal despite none of the members being present for the meeting," said JD Sutar, a committee member.