Mumbai: Activists allege BMC allocates money, but doesn't protect trees

Even as the BMC is just a few days away from presenting its mega-budget, green activists from the city said that it's shocking to see how little the civic body does to increase or protect the city's green cover.

Activist Zoru Bhatena, who has been fighting to protect the green cover in Mumbai, said that the BMC has a "lot of money in its kitty" but lack of proper planning and not consulting the right people ensures that no genuine groundwork takes place.

"The budget has to have a concern for rising air pollution and temperatures, which means there has to be a dedicated effort to increase the green cover. But, if one observes closely, the BMC is more keen to add civil work to its gardens rather than trees," Zoru said, adding that unfortunately, the BMC has too much money, but little concern for the environment.

Several other activists have also alleged that BMC regularly sanctions money in its budget for the beautification of the city that includes plantation along dividers and medians. "Where is the money going? It's a major scam that all the dividers and traffic islands where these plantations are done, disappear after a month. All the plants dry up, the reason being the choice of plants and bad soil being used," said a civic activist from Andheri. They also alleged that another oversight that leads to wastage of taxpayers money is putting up of exotic trees like bottle palms that have zero ecological advantages.

ALLEGATIONS

• BMC is more keen to add civil work to its gardens rather than trees. 
   
• BMC sanctions money for beautification that includes plantation along dividers and medians, but they dry up in a month. 
   
• Another oversight is planting exotic trees that have zero ecological advantages.