MMRC seeks nod to axe 467 trees for Metro line

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has once again sought permission from Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to cut 467 trees for one of the Metro lines. The MMRC had already sought permission for cutting forty trees in Bhakti Park (Wadala) and 161 in Cuffe Parade for the Metro-3 line.

The civic body had, on October 4 and November 12, issued a notice informing that the MMRC had sought approval for cutting down trees as they would obstruct the upcoming Metro projects. According to a notice issued on November 22, Metro line 2A (Dahisar east to DN Nagar) in R North ward will require 252 trees to be cut for construction, widening and improvement of road; 215 trees for coming in the way of the proposed Metro Line 2A and three trees for “affecting the construction” of the proposed Metro-3’s project office. This proposal by the BMC suggestions on the stated permission within seven days.

Once the objections and suggestions are received, a public hearing will be organised before the Tree Authority and a final decision will be taken on it. This authority has already cleared the cutting of a 22 trees from Andheri to Dahisar last week.

Stalin D, founder of Vanashakti, an NGO, said, “It seems that the government is hardly doing anything to protect our green cover and, under the guise of development, trees in the city are being cut. In the places where there is a good green cover, the temperature is observed to be in control. There is no point in transplanting them without a proper follow up to their growth.”