Mumbai Metro work delayed by tree authority's absence

Mumbai: The state government informed the Bombay high court that the construction work of metro has been delayed, as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has not set-up tree authority committee. It also requested the court to issue direction to the civic body for constituting the said committee.

The state informed the court that as per BMC rule the state requires permission from the tree authority in order to cut trees in Mumbai for the metro construction work.

In absence of the tree authority, the metro work has been delayed, it said. The BMC informed the court that they were looking out for expert, which is a requisite to form the tree authority as per the Environment Protection Act.

A division bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing a bunch of petitions filed opposing construction of metro carshed in Aarey area of Mumbai Suburbs. According to the petitions, around 2,000 trees will be axed for the metro carshed.

Advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni told the court that another bench of high court had issued direction to the BMC to include seven experts from botany field in the 14-member tree committee.

The court also directed the BMC to constitute tree committee according to their order, said Mr Kumbhakoni. The court also said that the tree committee could not take decision on any application without complying with the order. He further said that despite the court order, the BMC has not filled up the post and hence, the metro work has been affected.

Senior counsel Anil Sakhare, who represented the BMC, informed the court that since they could not find any expert for the committee, the authorities have decided to issue advertisement in newspapers. “We have issued advertisement in five leading newspapers. Within two weeks, we will receive applications and the administration will take a decision accordingly,” said Mr Sakhare.

The court then kept the matter for hearing on March 7.