If you hack a tree, BMC wants you to plant two……..Somita Pal
Axed a tree in your backyard? Now, plant two in its place, each one at least 10 feet tall
Axed a tree in your backyard? Now, plant two in its place, each one at least 10 feet tall
The BMC has come up with this amendement of a minimum height for the new tree in a bid to maintain Mumbai’s green cover.
Until now, the Tree Act mandated that two new trees be planted for every tree cut although no minimum height was specified. The municipal corporation believes a tree between 10 feet and 20 feet in height has a better survival rate than a sapling, besides requiring lesser maintenance.
Tree Authority officials said the number of trees being cut in the city has been on the rise. And people were trying to get away by planting saplings as replacements.
Nature’s hackers
“We found that people cut big trees and planted saplings simply because it is mandatory,” said Chandrashekhar Rokde, deputy municipal commissioner (gardens). “Our reason for specifying a minimum height is to ensure that the city’s green cover remains intact.”
An average of 5,500 trees are cut in the city every year.
A survey conducted by the BMC has revealed that for every five people in the city, there exists one tree. It’s a skewed ratio vis-Ã -vis international norms, which mandate that cities have two trees for every person of its population.
Green check
“People, especially builders, used to cut trees and would get away by planting trees barely 2 feet tall just so that the builder’s occupancy certificate would not be held back,” said Dr Nilesh Baxi, member of the Tree Committee. “Another good thing is that people who hack a tree will now have to show what they have planted and where.”
However, Dr Baxi said that BMC would have to ensure that efforts are made to ensure the proposal is implemented. “For instance, former state forests minister Babanrao Pachpute had proposed that those caught cutting trees be sent to jail, but the proposal was forgotten after his tenure ended,” said Dr Baxi.
Only recently, BMC purchased 5,000 trees of 20 different varieties at Rs 10 lakh from Andhra Pradesh.
5,500
The average number of trees cut in Mumbai every year
The average number of trees cut in Mumbai every year
Did you know?
While in Mumbai, you plant two trees if you hack one, in neighbouring cities like Pune and Nashik you have to plant three for every tree hacked.
While in Mumbai, you plant two trees if you hack one, in neighbouring cities like Pune and Nashik you have to plant three for every tree hacked.