Keep impact on environment in mind, BMC told

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Tuesday remarked that the government and civic authorities should strike a balance between development of infrastructure and the environment.

A division bench of Chief Justice N.H. Patil and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing a public interest litigation claiming that the constitution of the Tree Authority of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation  (BMC) was illegal as it did not have any tree expert as earlier mandated by the HC.

The bench said that the authorities had to keep in mind that while infrastructure projects like the Metro line were in public interest, the impact of such projects on the environment was also a public issue.

The petition claimed that permissions granted by the authority to fell trees to pave the way for infrastructure projects like the metro was arbitrary and illegal.

Advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni informed the high court that four highly qualified persons had now been appointed as members of the Tree Authority.

The court accepted Mr Kumbhakoni’s statement regarding appointment of persons to the Tree Authority.

However, the court remarked that the government should instill confidence among the public that the trees uprooted would be either replanted or new trees would be planted elsewhere.

“You (government) should ensure more green cover, that is nature's demand. People are not happy because trees are planted but are not taken care of. Just planting and replanting is not enough. There has to be a balance between infrastructure development and environment,” the Bombay highcourt said.

The Bombay high court (HC) last week granted the civic body one week to finalise the experts.