72 trees in Kamala Nehru Park face axe

The iconic Kamala Nehru Park in Malabar Hill may lose its sheen if the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has its way. The civic body has proposed to shrink its size to facilitate the widening of a pedestrian walkway to make it a motorable road. The road-widening project is also going to affect 72 trees in the park, of which 48 will be chopped and 24 transplanted.

Peeved with the proposal, local residents have taken up cudgels against the civic body, demanding the scrapping of the project. Residents said it would destroy the garden as well as the natural ecology of Malabar Hill along with loosening its rock formation.

Perched at the top of picturesque Malabar Hill, Kamala Nehru Park is among the city’s favourite haunts for amusement and is popular with schoolchildren for its Boot House or Old Woman’s Shoe, a structure that resembles a shoe.

The park was laid out in the early 1880s over city’s main Malabar Hill reservoir. However, the road-widening project is likely to demolish a large portion of the park, including the amphitheater and children’s play area, said residents.

According to the civic officials, the Chiranjilal Loyalka Marg, also known as Siri Road, is a walkway that connects the BG Kher Marg to the Tambe Chowk at Malabar Hill. The 535-metre road, partly made up of asphalt and paver blocks, then connects to the park area through steep steps and sharp turns. The road has been in use for some 4 to 5 years and was earlier used for plying of vehicles, said civic officials.

The civic body’s road-widening project involves acquiring around 2,540 sq mt of the park by hacking 48 trees and transplanting 24 trees to other places. The affected park area has been reserved for a recreational ground. It also comes under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), due to which the BMC has made a presentation before the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) to get permission for the proposed road. The civic body has also sought a nod from the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) and tree authority in this regard.

Local residents have vehemently opposed the proposal saying that cutting off 48 trees would be disastrous for Malabar Hill, which is a natural hill.

“The face of the hill is stabilised and anchored by these trees and cutting them will subject it to landslide,” said Indrani Malkani of Malabar Hill Residents Association. “In addition to this, no traffic viability report has been undertaken for this project. Instead of easing traffic movement, it will create a severe bottleneck at Tambe Chowk, causing traffic jams and air pollution.”

Taking note of residents’ opposition, the BMC officials have decided to visit the place. “A final decision will be taken only after interacting with local residents and taking into consideration their opinion,” said Prakash Gangadhare, chairman of civic improvements committee.