With just a few days to go for Christmas, East Indians from the Juhu-Koliwada area are facing an emotional and sensitive issue — they will, in all likelihood, lose their only Christmas tree, which was the area's pride. The irony is these same people had been pleading with the civic authorities to relay the main road in their area, something which hasn't been done in the last 10 years, without realising that the tree would be collateral damage.
The Christmas tree is facing the axe as civic authorities have decided to lay stormwater drain chambers along the sides of the road. Besides this, the area will also lose 20-odd palm trees, the only green cover there, as well as the stretch of flower beds on both sides of the road.
Residents claimed they have been running from pillar to post to try and save their tree but now don't have any place left to go to. They accused local politicians of dilly-dallying on the issue and saying cutting of a few trees for development should not be objected.
"We don't mind if the palm trees are cut, but the civic body is mindlessly laying stormwater drain chambers in place of the flower beds. Now, rodents will have easy access to the houses here as the gutters will flow right outside people's doors," said a resident.
A student from the area, when asked about his thoughts on the Christmas tree, became emotional and said, "This is the only landmark tree in the area, we have had it for 20 years. All residents together have taken care of it, watered it and watched it grow to its current height of 40 feet. We decorate it unfailingly every Christmas. I can't believe it won't be with us this year."
In the last 20 years, the Revandkar Road has been laid only twice. This year, BMC's central agency has taken up the work. An activist from the area, Larson Fernandes, said, "I have spoken to four horticulturists, all of them have opined that the tree can't even be transplanted as it belongs to a delicate species and, hence, will die if cut. We suggested to BMC officials to route the stormwater drain chambers around the tree, but we have failed to convince them."
He also rued the fact that the work has been going on for a month now, with the contractor just having gotten the roadsides dug up for the drain chambers. The dug up stretches have been kept unattended, and only four labourers are working on the project at a snail's pace, he alleged.
While assistant commissioner of K-west Parag Masurkar was not available for comment, ward officials confirmed about the trees being axed for "development".
"The 40-foot-wide road will have 100-meter chamber as per the plan. We can't do anything about the tree, as routing the chambers around it may create a sudden diversion, leading to water getting choked at one point," said an official.
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