No more green sacrifice for the gods….Urvashi Seth
Warning for BMC to protect Mumbai’s trees ahead of Navratri, after reports claim rampant illegal chopping of trees during Ganeshotsav
Warning for BMC to protect Mumbai’s trees ahead of Navratri, after reports claim rampant illegal chopping of trees during Ganeshotsav
Officials of BMC’s Tree Authority have written an ominous letter to the municipal commissioner highlighting the widespread chopping of trees throughout the city during the recently concluded Ganeshotsav. The authority has also demanded a strict vigil on Mumbai’s 25 lakh trees during the upcoming Navratri festival stating that continued violations against them could impact the environment.
According to the letter addressed to the Municipal Commissioner Swadhin Kshatriya, 90 per cent of the chopped trees during Ganeshotsav were done illegally. MiD DAY has acquired a copy of the letter that highlights the status of the trees in the city.
Speaking to MiD DAY, U N Singh, member of Tree Authority, said, “After doing a random survey, we realised that there were many trees that were pruned or chopped off in an haphazard manner. We also found that many had been chopped off without seeking permission from BMC.”
As reported by MiD DAY earlier in its issue dated September 6 (Cool Darshan at the cost of green lungs), a popular Ganesh mandal at Byculla chopped off branches and leaves of 12 trees to erect an AC enclosure for their devotees. Apparently, the mandal had got the nod to only trim the trees in order to build air-conditioned waiting enclosures on the two grounds belonging to BMC and MHADA. But the organisers cut off the branches and leaves of a dozen trees, leaving them naked with no foliage.
Strict action
“BMC needs to take stern action against the violators. Rather than chopping the branches on their own, one can inform the ward to help them prune the tree. Such incidents are common during festivals,” echoed Niranjan Shetty, another member of Tree Authority.
“BMC needs to take stern action against the violators. Rather than chopping the branches on their own, one can inform the ward to help them prune the tree. Such incidents are common during festivals,” echoed Niranjan Shetty, another member of Tree Authority.
In a random survey done by Singh, areas such as Chembur, Kandivli, Lokhandwala and Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link road were found to be most susceptible to illegal chopping of trees. “We noticed that on certain roads despite no movements of Ganpati mandals, branches were still chopped off for personal benefits. Keeping in mind the forthcoming festivals like Navratri and Lord Vishwakarma immersion, we have requested for extra vigilance,” he added. Singh also stated these trees were being chopped rampantly despite the fact that this issue was not discussed in the BMC meeting held last month.
The Other Side
“We have not received any such complaints. We will act on it if anybody lodges a complaint. We will strictly monitor the mandals too,” said Chandrakant Rokde, the deputy municipal commissioner of garden department.
“We have not received any such complaints. We will act on it if anybody lodges a complaint. We will strictly monitor the mandals too,” said Chandrakant Rokde, the deputy municipal commissioner of garden department.