18 January,2015 09:00 AM IST | | Ankoor Anvekar
NMMC has taken the step in order to widen the roads
As part of the road-widening project in MIDC, Koparkhairane, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has transplanted over 2,000 trees on the Thane-Belapur stretch.
According to NMMC officials from the garden department, the cost of transplanting each tree ranges from R3,000 to R5,500 depending upon its size taking the total cost to R60 lakh.
The transplanted trees
Rishi Agarwal , a social and environmental activist, however, points out, that planting a new sapling, which costs around R1,000 each, would have been a cheaper and more effective alternative.
"The process of transplanting a tree is a waste of resources as the success rate is very poor. It obstructs their growth and is a costly affair compared to planting new saplings. A new plant would grow faster and would also save tax payer's money," says Agarwal.
Defending NMMC's stance, Chandrakant Tayade, administrative officer of NMMC garden department, claimed that transplanting of trees does not harm their growth. "Earlier, we have carried out similar processes successfully at the open space of Koparkhairane sewage treatment plant. We have planted the trees at a distance of three metres from each other and have almost finished the transplanting process," he adds.
NMMC officials further claimed that they conduct a medication process on the trees 10-15 days before and after the uprooting process to reduce loss during transplanting Meanwhile, Agarwal pointed out that the ideal distance between two trees should not be less than 30 metres. The season, too, is not suitable, points Agarwal.
"The civic body will have to invest more resources as this is not the right time to transplant trees. Monsoon is the ideal time for replanting trees. With the summer approaching, more water will be required to grow these trees," he stressed.
