The Bombay high court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to take every possible step to save trees in the city and ensure that trees are not arbitrarily cut or removed even for road-widening. The court said adequate care should be taken that these trees are replanted.
A division bench of Justice V.M. Kanade and Justice Swapana Joshi made the observation recently while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Khar resident Zoru Bathena. As per the petition, since 2010, trees between Khar and Borivali were infected by “mealy bug”, a type of pest, and the BMC did allegedly identify the cause or undertake remedial measures. The petition prayed for the issuance of directions to the BMC to protect the trees, replace dead trees with new ones and take steps to increase the green cover in the city.
In September, BMC had said to the court that it is going to plant 15,000 trees during the monsoon season to increase green cover in the city. The BMC also stated that in proposed Development Plan, it is reserving 3,470.65 hectare of land in the city for the development of garden, play ground and recreational ground.
On October 27, the petitioner had moved the application seeking an order of injunction, restraining the Corporation from cutting trees that are located on 13th road, Khar West.
