FELLED, BUT NOT REPLACED….Viju B
In 3 Yrs, BMC Allowed 17,263 Trees To Be Hewn To Make Space For Development, But Transplanted Trees Failed To Take Root
In 3 Yrs, BMC Allowed 17,263 Trees To Be Hewn To Make Space For Development, But Transplanted Trees Failed To Take Root
As the city scales new heights and planners focus on the long march towards concrete development, tree cover has taken a hit. For three years between 2007 and 2010, the civic body gave its permission for the felling of 17,263 trees for various developmental works. Now, there are a mere 19.1 lakh trees spread across 24 wards in Mumbai. Even this number is being hotly contested by environmentalists, who say the BMC in its 2008 census had also included shrubs.
Development and growth are a part of every city’s makeup, but the authorities and town planners have done little to replenish the loss of green cover and trees, say critics. The human to tree ratio for Mumbai is six is to one. Distribution varies drastically, say activists: there is a scarcity of green cover in areas like Marine Lines where there are 50 people for just one tree. This is not the case in other international cities. In New York City, for instance, there are three trees for every person.
In 2007, around 3,793 trees were felled. Another 7,593 trees were chopped in 2009—a 100% increase. According to the Tree Authority—a committee comprising BMC officials and NGOs that looks into conserving green cover—309 proposals to cut down trees were submitted to the BMC in 2010, and 5,877 trees were uprooted.
It’s little wonder, then, that citizens are questioning the rationale behind the “haphazard treecutting”. Dr Nilesh Baxi, a member of the Tree Authority committee said: “We are living in a claust ro p h o b i c concrete jungle. The trees just keep disappearing every other day. To make matters worse, Mumbai’s greenhouse gas emissions are higher than most cities in the world. This is a sure shot recipe for heart and respiratory diseases.’’
As per the Tree Act, the BMC has to plant two trees for every one that has been felled. The BMC’s Tree Authority said it has been following the rules. “We have given permission for transplanting 10,725 trees. Two years ago we even purchased full grown palm trees from Andhra Pradesh,’’ said a senior civic official said.
Environmentalists, however, say that the success rate of transplantations is very low, and the BMC should be focusing on planting and nurturing saplings. “The civic authorities do not bother to check whether the trees that have been replanted have survived. We have found that a majority of replanted trees simply died due to lack of proper care,’’ said Harish Pandey, member of New Link Road Residents’ Forum.
The process of transplanting trees is a long and timeconsuming one. Baxi added: “For the first few months, it’s like taking care of a newborn. And despite being careful, most rarely become full grown trees.” He added that the administration needs to ensure that replanted trees do not wither away, which is more often the case.
The BMC, too, is aware of the problem and senior officials said they are planning to start tree banks in every ward. This move will encourage citizens and NGOs plant trees in their neigbourhood. A civic official said: “We will begin the distribution of saplings before the monsoon. We will also guide citizens on how to dig pits, plant trees and protect them from encroachers.”
A year ago, in response to the massive loss of tree cover and the subsequent soil erosion at Tansa Lake, the BMC had launched a green revival and planted saplings instead of transplanting trees. “We are planning similar kinds of programs in and around lakes and places where greenery has been denuded,’’ the civic official said.
HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY
– Between 2007 and 2010, the civic body’s tree authority received 1,048 proposals asking for permission to cut trees. A total of 17,263 trees were chopped in the same period.
– Total no. of trees in Mumbai as per the 2008 census | 19.12 Lakh
THRIVING IN MUMBAI
Some of the trees that can flourish in the city include
* WHO’S COUNTING? The BMC’s 2008 census shows there are 19.12 lakh trees, but activists say shrubs have also been included in the count
– Others | Palm and flowering trees like the Laburnum
– Neem tree (Latin name: Azadirachta indica) | Often called the tree of life, its seeds, leaves, flowers and even bark are said to have medicinal properties
– Fruit trees | Mango, jackfruit and jamun trees are just some of the examples of popular fruit trees that are suited for Mumbai’s climate. Environmentalists, however, say that fruit trees should not be planted on busy arterial roads
– Cassia tree (Latin name: Cassia fistula) | Known as the Golden Shower Tree, it is native to southern Asia. Besides being the national tree of Thailand, it also the state tree and flower of Kerala. It has great medicinal value and In Ayurvedic medicine, it referred to as aragvadha, meaning ‘disease killer’
Tree transplantation is a huge farce and has never succeeded….Viju B
Mumbai: The state government’s apathetic stand towards the illegal felling of trees only highlights its short-sightedness, say activists and environmentalists who are fighting a losing battle trying to protect the city’s green cover.
Activist Sumaira Abudulali who runs Awaaz Foundation said: “The only way to way to reduce carbon-dioxide content in the atmosphere is by planting more trees. Several studies have shown that atmospheric pollution and lack of green cover has been the cause of many forms of respiratory tract illnesses,’’ she said.
Three years ago Awaaz had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the civic administration after it found out that officials had not maintained records on the numbers of trees replanted or monitored their survival rate. “The transplantation of trees is a huge farce and has never succeeded,’’ Abudulali added.
According to activists, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) does not include stringent green parameters for developers to adhere to. Abudulali said: “Ideally every proposal should be cleared only if the developer promises to rejuvenate the lost greenery. Officials, however, do not take such parameters into account while clearing development proposals.”
Many citizens who have taken it upon themselves to protect the green cover in their neighbourhoods say they are helpless when trees are chopped to increase the width of roads. Harish Pandey member of New Link Road Forum said: “Some times trees simply disappear over night. We have seen so many trees along the Link Road destroyed. There have been cases where huge trees have been chopped from private plots.’’
Pandey said that even when citizens lodge complaints and report cases of illegal tree cutting at local police stations, no action is taken. The government has failed to introduce stringent action and penalize offenders, he said.
Lack of accountability is another problem. “We need a system where all trees are accounted for. The civic administration should maintain a database for each ward where the number of the trees is recorded. A regular check should be done to ensure that the trees are in good health. If the civic body feels that a tree needs to be cut then adequate number of trees should be planted. This should be monitored separately,’’ Pandey said.
He added that if the BMC does not have adequate staff or funds, it should encourage public participation and enlist the help of NGOs, corporates, private citizens and even ALM members who are interested in protecting the city’s trees.
Abudulali said: “The government should also involve school and college students. The only way to preserve Mumbai’s shrinking green cover for the future generation is by involving them in environmental conservation programs.’’
ABC OF PLANTING TREES
The pit—where the tree is to be planted—has to be adequately deep and wide depending on the type of tree and its roots. A sapling has to watered regularly, until its roots develop so that they can draw water from the soil. There tree should be surrounded by 15 inches of mud
The pit—where the tree is to be planted—has to be adequately deep and wide depending on the type of tree and its roots. A sapling has to watered regularly, until its roots develop so that they can draw water from the soil. There tree should be surrounded by 15 inches of mud
INTENSIVE CARE
– Pruning the roots of tree before transplanting it increases the chances of success
– Younger is better. Increasing the size of a tree’s root ball increases the effort it takes to transplant. It also decreases a tree’s chance of survival if not done properly
– The root ball should not be destroyed while the tree is being transplanted
– The new soil should match the old soil from where the tree has been uprooted
– The pit for the new location should be made at least 15 days in advance
– The first three months are crucial, and only intensive care can guarantee the transplanted tree’s survival
Times View
Development is the driving force behind Mumbai’s growth, but the authorities have done little to replace the green cover that has been destroyed in the process. The Tree Act clearly says that two trees have to be planted for every one that is felled, but the law is often ignored. Transplanting trees is not a viable solution, as the process is time consuming and often unsuccessful.
Development is the driving force behind Mumbai’s growth, but the authorities have done little to replace the green cover that has been destroyed in the process. The Tree Act clearly says that two trees have to be planted for every one that is felled, but the law is often ignored. Transplanting trees is not a viable solution, as the process is time consuming and often unsuccessful.
The government has to take stringent action and penalize violators for illegal felling of Mumbai’s trees.
The state should also include citizen groups and ALMs in afforestation programs so that neighbourhoods can regain their green cover.
VO I C E S
– A majority of trees that have been transplanted do not survive. They need to be taken care of like newborns. Even then, they rarely mature into full-grown trees. The administration needs to protect transplanted trees from dying ….Nilesh Baxi | TREE AUTHORITY MEMBER
– There is no actual count of the number of trees that are being cut in Mumbai in the name of development. We need to account for every tree that is being felled. It’s worth noting that trees in other cities like New York and London flourish despite development…. Harish Pandey | MEMBER OF NEW LINK ROAD RESIDENTS’ FORUM
– Trees along the Eastern Express Highway have been felled, but the authorities have not planted new trees. The state should promote tree plantation drives in schools and provide incentives to neighbourhoods so that green cover can be protected…. D Stalin | PROJECT DIRECTOR, VANASHAKTI