Municipal body in no mood to grant tree-cutting nod for Metro-3 at Aarey
The civic body's tree authority department has not sanctioned any tree-cutting proposals since June 2017.
Mumbai: With the dwindling tree covers in the city, particularly Aarey milk colony owing to the Metro-3 line project, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) tree authority department has not sanctioned any tree-cutting proposals since June 2017.
Five different proposals for tree cutting pertaining to the Metro-3 line have been issued by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRC) since June this year.
A total of 516 trees are slated to axed according to the documents of the BMC’s Tree Authority.
Recently, the tree authority issued a public notice seeking objections and suggestion for the proposal of cutting 444 trees at Saritpur Nagar, Goregaon.
The trees would make way for exit ramp, setting electricity pylon and road diversion plot in the Aarey colony area. Seventy-two trees are slated to be chopped for the casting yard and launching shaft at Aarey colony. However, the civic body has maintained that it is in the process of sanctioning the proposals after looking into suggestions and objections.
“We have a hearing on the matter in coming days. All the suggestions and objections will be considered. We are in the process of sanctioning the proposals,” said Jitendra Pardeshi, Garden Superintendent, BMC.
Apart from the 516 trees, 3,130 trees have been proposed for cutting for the Metro-3 carshed at Aarey colony. The tree authority is presently carrying out the tree count at the site.
“We are happy that our suggestions are taken into account. The BMC has not sanctioned a single tree cutting in Aarey colony till date since June,” said Zoru Bhathena, citizen and activist.