Khar's very own Chipko movement

A young boy and resident of Khar shows his support to saving the environment by hugging a tree. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

People hugging trees - that's an unusual sight in Mumbai. But, at 9.30 am on Saturday, around 30 people, comprising former Khar residents and activists, came forward to do exactly that, at 13th Road. They were protesting against the cutting of 34 trees on the road - an inevitable side-effect of a BMC road-widening project.

Among those present were members of 'Rastaa Chhaap,' a voluntary group of friends who have chosen the Gandhian way of saving trees in the city with their motto, "planting and preserving", as well as Deputy Mayor (and local corporator) Alka Kerkar. During the protest, more than 250 people came forward to sign a petition.

'No technology'
Sabishi Shankar (47), a designer and a member of Rastaa Chhaap, said, "There are 34 trees scheduled to be cut down, out of which five will be transplanted. But, the civic body has not carried out tree transplantation successfully in other parts of the city. They don't have the technology for that." Shankar added that the focus should be on better road and town planning - one that would provide a permanent solution to traffic congestion and double-parking in the narrow lanes of Khar.

"The main idea behind this protest was to make people aware that we should not lose our green cover," said Priya Bhimani, another attendee, and Shankar's fellow Rastaa Chhaap comrade. "We understand the issue of traffic congestion, but there has to be a way that the trees are replanted and taken care of. If one is cutting down 35 trees in a given area, they must plant 40 trees in another place in the city. That way, we are replacing the oxygen."

Corporator behind cause
"Development has to take place but not at the cost of nature," said local corporator and Deputy Mayor Alka Kerkar, who was present at the protest. "We will see that no trees are cut - the authorities will have to take measures to ensure they can complete the development of the road but only by preserving the trees, while doing so."

Tree authority says
"No action will be taken on the cutting of trees till late next month," said JV Pardeshi, superintendent of gardens. "A second call needs to be taken by the road authorities as to whether 13th Road indeed does need widening. If it doesn't, then there is no question of the trees being cut."