Civic body unveils tree planting plan in court

On Tuesday, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) informed the Bombay High Court that it has proposed to plant a total of 15,000 trees during this monsoon season.

The civic body filed its affidavit before a division bench of Justice Vidyasagar Kanade and Justice Swapna Joshi, who were hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), raising concerns over the receding number of trees in the city due to mealybugs.

Trupti Puranik, the counsel appearing for MCGM informed the bench that the civic body has proposed to plant a total of 15,000 trees in the city, during the monsoon season. She also informed the bench that the civic body has distributed a total of 12, 333 saplings to various individuals, societies etc under the State government’s mass plantation program, which was held on July 1, this year.

Citing the government’s program, Puranik said the civic body played an active role in the program by planting tall trees to the tune of 7,950. Puranik told the bench that the civic body in its proposed Development Plan has kept a total of 4,655 plots across the city reserved for gardens (RG/PG). She also told the bench that the civic body is following the suggestions put forth by HC regarding planting three trees in lieu of cutting of one tree.

“The civic body has already undertaken necessary scientific tree census and geo-tagging and survey activity of a total of 24, 93, 855 trees from 18 wards in the city,” the twopage affidavit reads.

On the other hand, the counsel appearing for the State government sought time for filing its affidavit.

The bench has posted the matter after four weeks for further hearing.