10 March,2015 06:25 AM IST | | Neha LM Tripathi
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation has decided to chop trees in Churchgate for Colaba-Bandra-Seepz line; residents say the 70-yr-old trees not only keep area cool, but are also home to birds
Mumbai Metro will have to result in the death of 73 trees in south Mumbai at least, that is what the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has decided. The MMRC informed the federation committee of the A ward of their decision to do so, sparking protests.
Some of the trees that will have to make way for the Metro III line. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar
MMRC officials met local residents and members of the committee on March 6. The organisation announced that it would cut 73 trees near Churchgate on J Tata Road to clear the path for the proposed Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro Line III. MMRC said it had applied to the Tree Authority to go ahead with the plan.
Nina Verma (75), who is planning a peaceful protest with college students
This led to an uproar from local residents, who categorically objected to this plan. Nina Verma, a 75-year-old local resident of J Tata Road and an active member of the committee, said, "I have seen these trees since birth. They not only add to the aesthetic beauty of the area, but also keep it cool and give us peace.
Tree species on J Tata Road include gulmohar, peepal, coconut palms, siris, banyan and neem
Once they are chopped, we will never get them back. It will be a huge irreversible loss to the ecosystem." Verma is leading the efforts to save the trees and plans a peaceful protest by involving college students.
Fighting it out
The species of trees are gulmohar, peepal, coconut palms, siris, banyan and neem. Residents of south Mumbai have been writing to MMRC regarding this issue since December last year, and they received the first reply in January.
A small meeting of individual societies was convened, but after residents demanded a ward-level meeting to know of the planned developments, the March 6 meeting was announced.
Ruchir Bansal, who himself fought to save trees that were set to be cut for widening Maharshi Karve Road, asked MMRC officials in the meeting the exact number of trees that would have to go for the Metro line. 73 was the answer.
Another resident, Marge Gubbay, a resident of Prem Court building in the area, added, "Besides the environmental impact, we also fear for our own safety.
There are many residential buildings that are nearly 70 years old. The authority has plans to make three underpasses at the J Tata Circle (opposite Samrat Hotel). How will these age-old buildings bear so much of drilling work?
The authorities should relocate the line and utilise open spaces in the area in order to avoid cutting trees as well as any harm to the old buildings." She further added, "We want a third party to assess the project well before any work commences, in order to be fully assured about the project that seeks to change the look and peace of our area."
Meanwhile, Cuffe Parade residents alleged the actual number of trees affected in their area would be humongous, since the proposed Cuffe Parade station is set to be built under Colaba Woods, a huge garden with nearly 500 trees.
"Suggestions were also given to the MMRC, as all these 73 trees could be saved if the last three stops (Churchgate, Vidhan Bhavan, Cuffe Parade) are connected via a coastal route, the cost of which is less than one-fourth the current plan. This should be viable as the distance from the sea coast to the last three proposed stations is less than 500 metres," he added.
According to the MMRDA's own Environment Impact Assessment report, 589 trees will have to be felled on the entire Colaba-Bandra-Seepz line, which will reduce oxygen production by about 32,977 kg. The same report says the MMRDA will plant more than 1,000 trees to compensate for the loss.
