Speak up: Is Metro rail's promise of tree transplantation real?

Parts of Mumbai are set to lose a big chunk of their precious tree cover for the ongoing construction of the Metro 3 project, sparking protests from environmental activists who have raised questions on whether the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRC) will ensure successful transplantation of 1,727 trees, and carry out compensatory plantation in a responsible manner.

Information procured by citizens under RTI showed that transplantation carried out earlier had not met with much success. Another question being raised is while the plantation will be carried out mostly in Aarey Colony, what steps would be taken for the loss of green cover in other areas where trees are being hacked mindlessly?

Amid protests, the MMRC issued an appeal on Saturday urging public cooperation. It stated that the Bombay High Court and Supreme Court had vacated the stay on tree felling after being convinced that MMRC has all the required permissions to axe trees. They have further stated that they would be transplanting 1,727 trees and cutting 1,074 trees. "Metro Line-3 is the need of the hour to cope with the travel conditions and traffic congestion," MMRC said. DNA spoke to a cross section of people in the city for their views on the felling of trees for the Metro project.

RESIDENTS SPEAK:

It's shocking that so many trees are being cut down for the Metro project. Most of them would be more than 50 years old. This reflects lack of planning in the project. What is more shocking is that the contractors get paid for every tree they cut. I think the government should make a rule that their payment won't be made unless they plant 10 trees for every tree cut. When housing societies wish to cut a couple of trees, the municipal corporation and other authorities ask for a plethora of reasons and permissions. So why is this massacre justified now?
—Chinmay Shirsat, Goregaon

There is no alternative to development. Construction of the Metro is important, for which trees are being felled. But the authorities should stick to their promises and abide by the conditions of compensatory plantation. If there is greenery, only then will there be a balance. Why not let them first plant an equal or more number of trees before hacking trees for the project.
—Nitin Nikam, Chembur

The entire process should have been approached systematically. The government should have implemented a scheme wherein each household would plant a tree. Development is necessary, but not at the cost of the environment. Protection of the environment and planned development should be the government's agenda.
—Jasjit Narang, Khar

Authorities have assured that they are transplanting trees, but we are unaware of the location. They should provide the details on their website as well as on public forums. For the sake of development, there is no option but to chop a few trees. The successful survival rate of huge trees after transplantation is 20 per cent. Rather than wasting money on transplanting these trees which have lesser survival chances, the authorities should use the same fund to plant new trees.
—Shubhajit Mukherjee, Kandivli

I am against the indiscriminate hacking of trees across the city. Instead, we should focus on planting more trees in order to get cleaner air. Chembur happens to be very polluted, so more trees can only do us good.
—Alok Kumar Singh, Chembur

It is cruel to cut trees, but for the sake of development if a tree poses as an obstacle, then it should be transplanted some place else where it can grow. They should plant at least an equal number of trees — not shrubs — if not more. Each tree requires three feet by three feet space. Tree transplantation is difficult, if not impossible. It is also an expensive affair. The BMC charges Rs 800 for an eight feet tree. Now, the problem is do the authorities have space and can they can ensure trees will survive? They even talk of planting one lakh trees. But where is the space?
—Khushru Patel, Bandra

I am against this kind of development which comes at the cost of our environment. Metro service is not going to ease the rush in trains as this mode will be used by a limited number of people. Instead of investing so much money in the Metro project, government should concentrate on the existing mode of transportation like railways and other means of public transport. In the name of development, they are slaughtering trees.
—Amarjeet Singh, Andheri

EXPERT SPEAK

It's extremely disheartening that despite every single person we approached, including the Chief Minister as well as the courts, they agreed that there was a problem. However, at the end all we have is a committee and dead trees. We tried all we could and knocked all possible doors to save trees but in vain. Now, we only hope that the entire transplantation and compensatory plantation will be carried out in the way promised by the MMRC, who claim to be 'environmentally conscious'.
— Zoru Bhatena, environmental activist

It is extremely sad to see the government in a hurry to hack trees that for decades have been providing ecological services. Their claims of transplantation is a sham, and it has been proved time and again during earlier projects. If the government thinks that we will give up the fight, they are mistaken, and this only time will tell.
—Stalin Dayanand, project director, Vanashakti