SoBo residents, activists take out mock funeral march to protest tree-felling

In a unique form of protest against felling of trees for the Mumbai Metro 3 project, activists and residents of various areas in the city held a 'funeral' march for the branch of a dead tree on Friday afternoon.

While the original plan of the protesters was to carry the branch from Yashwant Rao Chavan Centre in Nariman Point to the Eros Cinema in Churchgate, while passing the Mantralaya along the way, the Marine Drive police prevented the march mid-way at Hindustan Petroleum House in Churchgate.

A group of around 40 people were participating in the march in a mark of protest against the felling of trees by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC).

The police intervened on grounds that permission had been granted for only five people. Residents alleged that the government tried to suppress their protest.

Residents alleged that the authority has been cutting trees which are not even obstructing the metro project. Dodo Burjanwala, who participated said, "It is very unfortunate that trees, which are not obstructing the project are also being felled, and even some trees for which residents have secured stay from the high court are also being slaughtered."

He further alleged that he and other protesters were manhandled by the police and taken to the police station unnecessarily. Residents said that a tree which is over 100-years-old, outside the Hindustan Petroleum House in Churchgate, is also being cut despite not posing an obstacle to the metro project.