56 per cent trees transplanted by MMRC dying'

Mumbai: Only 44 per cent of the trees transplanted by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) have survived, according to the committee appointed by the high court to inspect them. The committee completed its eighth visit in May and came out with a report Wednesday stating that out of the 1,483 trees transplanted, 824 (56 per cent) are dying/dead.

Between the last visit in November 2018 and the one in May 2019, 21 additional trees have been found transplanted while 65 additional trees have been found dead.

This is a significant deterioration and a clear indication that proper care is not been taken to protect the trees.

Zoru Bathena, who represents the committee from the petitioner’s side said, “The survival rate of the trees is very poor. Now, the BMC has again ordered removal of 2,702 trees at Aarey for the metro car shed, which was earlier on hold. Out of the 2,702 trees, 2,238 will be cut while 464 will be transplanted. Considering the poor survival rate, we fear as to how many trees out of the 464 will actually survive”.

The BMC is holding a public meeting for objections and suggestions on the public notice to cut trees at Aarey on July 8 at the MMRC auditorium where many citizens and activists are headed.

Meanwhile, MMRC MD Ashwini Bhide on her Twitter handle posted that 20,000 plus grown-up have already been planted in the same area in Aarey. However, this has been trolled by social media users. Environmental activist Stalin Dayanand said, “Citizens are invited to investigate the presence of 20,000 saplings planted at Aarey by MMRC but only MMRC can see them.”