BMC plans to remove 836 trees for Metro, Activists irked

Mumbai: The activists in the city are fumed over the administration of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) since despite of high court (HC) giving a stay on Metro 2B work, the BMC has published a notice to axe 836 trees for Metro 2B stations and depot.

The civic garden department published a notice recently which includes axing 431 trees for Metro 2B car depot, 226 trees for Metro 2B work from ESIC Nagar in Andheri to Nanavati hospital and 179 trees for six Metro 2B stations at Kurla, Chembur and Eastern Express Highway.

Although, this proposal is yet to be sanctioned by BMC's tree authority, the activists are raising questions as to why it cannot be considered as contempt of court.

The residents and activists of western suburb had approached the HC last year demanding that Metro 2B line should be taken underground following which since May 2018, the court has put a stay on the work of Metro 2B.

The MMRDA was allowed to only carry soil testing but no construction work. Despite that, construction was carried at several places and HC recently issued a contempt notice to MMRDA.

Resident of Juhu Vile Parle Development Scheme (JVPD) Nitin Killawala, an architect and planner who have filed the PIL to shift the Metro 2B underground said, “The government wants on the project by hook or crook. If you raise a query about the project, every officer points finger at chief minister Devendra Fadnavis”.

Activist Zoru Bathena said, “Why are the authorities in hurry to get approvals for tree cutting when the work has got a court stay? When the court has allowed only soil testing, why the sanctions for tree removals are needed?”

Despite repeated attempts, the officers from BMC's garden department were unavailable for comment.