By the next hearing all trees will be gone, say activists

Tree activists on Friday said that by the the time Bombay High Court will take the final hearing, most of the trees that they wanted to save will be gone. They were reacting to the court's refusal to stay tree cutting for Metro 3 project. Activists also questioned how the government could rush when the two-member committee formed by court was yet to hear the complaints.

"We knew there were slim chances but we had to approach the court. The committee had to be approached to hear the matter as per court directives. Since they were scared that the work will be stopped, hence they are rushing into the subject," said Zoru Bhathena, who was present at the hearing.

Activist said that all that the government had to do was to wait for few days. "The government has signed the Rio Convention where they have said that precautionary principles will apply in matters of environment. After signing we have forgotten our obligation. Now there is no point hearing the matter because all trees will be cut by then," said Stalin D, project director of NGO Vanashakti.

Dr. Nilesh Baxi, member of tree authority too echoed similar views. "From what I hear they are even cutting trees for which no permission was given. Nowhere I am getting hold of news from colleagues that all branches were cut to ensure that trees were removed to transplant them. The record of transplantation is very poor. They are fooling the people. It is a sad state of affairs," said Baxi.