Replanted & left to wither without care……..Simit Bhagat
MUMBAI: The Tree Authority may have well given the green signal to hack 383 trees in Wadala and replant them elsewhere in the city but environmentalists are not convinced. They argue that those who are supposed to ensure the trees are planted successfully do little by way of follow-up action.
Activist Sumaira Abdulali says, “The Tree Authority’s role has been restricted to giving permissions to cut trees. There is no track of the number of trees replanted or transplanted properly.”
Under the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Preservation of Trees Act, when permission for cutting trees is granted, the applicant has to plant two trees of the same or suitable species within a given time. Also, the developer or the planning agency must deposit at least Rs 2,000 for each tree felled, which is refunded within two years if the tree is deemed to be growing satisfactorily.
However, activists say the civic body rarely follows up to see if the transplanted trees survive or not. Also, many developers prefer to forfeit the deposited amount instead of replanting trees. “In several cases the developers do not reclaim the amount after getting the no-objection certificate. If they approach the Tree Authority to claim the refund they will have to produce proof of the tree’s growth. So they prefer to forfeit that amount,” said Nilesh Baxi, nominated member of BMC’s Tree Authority, adding, “Neither the BMC’s building department nor the Tree Authority keeps any check on whether the trees are in place.”
Experts also point to the fact that many trees replanted by developers or developmental agencies include the exotic variety that aren’t of much help to the city and are also the first casualties during heavy rains. For instance the Gulmohur tree, originally from Madagascar, is loved by many for its scarlet flowers but is an easy victim of heavy rains. “Due to lack of knowledge on trees and with spreading greenery in a short time their prime aim, they end up planting exotic trees. There is a need for a sustained campaign to educate people and civic officials on the trees that should not be planted in the city,” said Marselin Almeida, botanist and author.