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ShareThe Tree Authority has given permission to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to chop down about 127 trees on LBS Marg, from Gandhinagar area in Kanjurmarg to Mulund check naka.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has allotted the task of road widening and concretisation of side strips for the next five years to MMRDA. Work has already began, and five trees were hacked last week.
In the eye of the storm is a 70-year-old rain tree, measuring four metres in diameter, opposite Huma Adlabs near Kanjurmarg station, which is next on the chopping block.
"It is unfortunate this project has an unwelcome fallout," said Harshad Kale, assistant commissioner with S-ward. "But development has to go on. Besides, the project has been undertaken with due permission from the Tree Authority."
Kale said he has received complaints from concerned citizens.
"About 127 trees is a big number, but permission was granted only after the area was inspected by the Tree Authority's inspection committee as well as by Tree Authority officials," said PA Naringrekar, superintendent with the Garden Department and Tree Authority.
"However, we have told MMRDA to cut down only trees that will be obstacles to the project and make arrangement to transplant some trees. We will keep a check on whether this condition is followed," Naringrekar said.
But, NN Naik, vice-president with the Friends of Trees organisation, is upset with the civic officials for putting development ahead of tree canopy.
"Agreed that development has to continue, but does it have to be at the cost of the environment?" Naik said. "The Tree Authority said some trees will be transplanted, and not chopped down. However, that condition will hardly be followed once the project starts."
An official with Friends of Trees said, "Transplanting a big tree costs nearly Rs 25,000. One would have to lift the entire tree with its roots, with the help of cranes. Also a deep pit would have to be dug. The bigger the tree, the bigger is the expense to transplant it."
