Richa PintoMumbai: BMC’s Tree Authority is set to deliberate on proposals involving 3,169 trees at its meeting on Tuesday, with permissions being sought to fell 1,777 trees and transplant 1,392 others for a series of infrastructure and redevelopment projects across Mumbai.The proposals include the Orange Gate-Marine Drive underground tunnel construction, the Dharavi redevelopment project, an IIT Bombay housing project in Powai and a slum rehabilitation scheme in Ghatkopar.The largest proposal before the authority pertains to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP). Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd has sought permission to remove 1,693 trees that would be affected by excavation for rehabilitation buildings on Sub Plot-B in Dharavi’s notified area. According to the proposal, officials found 2,006 trees at the site during inspections carried out in May this year, of which 1,693 trees would be impacted by the planned construction. The developer has sought permission to cut 871 trees, including seven that have already fallen, while 822 trees are proposed to be transplanted. The remaining trees will be retained.The proposal states that 24 of the trees proposed to be felled are between 50 and 85 years old, while 25 trees have been identified as “heritage” trees, of which 24 are proposed to be cut and one transplanted.As part of the proposal, the developer has committed to plant 22,904 compensatory trees within 15 days of the felling permission being granted. The new saplings will be at least 6 feet tall and of indigenous species. The compensatory plantation is proposed on 90 acres of land at Chahade village in Palghar district, for which the developer has submitted a no-objection certificate from the landowner.Nearly 8,000 trees are likely to be impacted across the entire Dharavi Redevelopment Project, for which around 30,000 additional trees will be planted within available open spaces in the project area. The developer has also undertaken to maintain the compensatory plantation for seven years.Another important proposal relates to the Orange Gate-Marine Drive underground road tunnel, which will connect the Eastern Freeway with the Coastal Road. Larsen & Toubro has sought approval to remove 66 trees affected by the revised Option-E alignment of the project in the Marine Drive precinct. Of these, three trees are proposed to be cut and 63 transplanted, while 18 trees located at the site will remain untouched. BMC officials carried out a joint site inspection in March and found 84 trees at the location, though only 66 fall within the project footprint.The authority will also consider a proposal from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay for construction of residential buildings in Powai. The institute has sought permission for 160 trees that are affected by the project. Of these, 49 trees are proposed to be felled and 111 transplanted, while 99 trees at the site will remain undisturbed. One tree was found to have fallen naturally during the site inspection.Another proposal concerns an SRA project in Ghatkopar (East) being undertaken by Ratan Builders for three cooperative housing societies. The developer has revised its plans after being directed by the BMC to explore ways to save more trees. The latest proposal seeks permission to cut 18 trees and transplant 15, while 11 trees will be retained. Officials said an earlier proposal sought permission to remove a larger number of trees, but the developer was asked to modify the layout to minimise tree loss.The proposals come amid increasing scrutiny over tree felling linked to large infrastructure projects in Mumbai. The Tree Authority, constituted under the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, is required to examine whether tree removal is unavoidable and whether adequate efforts have been made to retain or transplant trees before granting permission.
