09 March,2011 07:07 AM IST | | Rinkita Gurav
BMC sends notice to BEST and Tata Power for damaging green cover while carrying out cable laying work on D Road in Churchgate
Residents' worst fears of green butchery along D Road in Churchgate came true much before the anticipated date of March 13, when the neighbouring Wankhede Stadium is scheduled to host a World Cup match between Australia and Kenya.
Upset residents say they had nurtured theu00a0 trees like their children
The road leading to the entry of the stadium has been dug up for laying power cables, damaging the green cover on the pavements.
The local BMC ward office has sent a notice to BEST and Tata power for the same.
Residents of D Road were already worried about protecting the green cover on either flank of the street ('World Cup at Wankhede is a nuisance for residents', February 13) but even before the marauding crowd could come and mow down the green cover, the utility companies have done it.
Anil Bhatia, a resident of D Road, said, "We have been planting trees and shrubs for the past 25 years. We nurtured them like our children. We carried out organic planting and horticulture. The whole pavement has been messed up. The BMC needs to take action against those involved in the butchery."
His neighbour Mahendra Hemdev agreed. "The BEST department was in an unusual hurry to get the work done. And in the process, they have caused irreparable damage to plants and trees in the area. Some have been uprooted completely."
He added, "We are planning to put up dustbins along either flank of the road to protect the area from getting littered with garbage, used water bottles and wrappers whenever there is a match at Wankhede stadium."
A senior official from BMC's A Ward garden department said, "We have been maintaining the road, but the residents have worked really hard to protect and increase the green cover in the vicinity.
If it gets spoilt, then they will surely get upset. We have inspected the site and sent a notice to BEST and Tata Power to restore the plantations within seven days. If they fail to comply with the order, they would be penalised."
According to local residents, the utility companies have dumped concrete debris on the plants and broken pots while carrying out the cable laying work.
The Other Side
BEST Chief Engineer (power supply) A John said, "The damaged plants will be restored soon. There wasn't any negligence on our part in the work carried out on the pavements (of D Road)."
Tata Power refrained from commenting on the issue. Sources in the utility, however, said, "The plantations will
be restored if they have been damaged."
Mumbai Cricket Association's Joint Secretary Lalchand Rajput said, "The new cable lines are being laid for Garware Club, which was recently renovated."
