MMRC to cough up `22 lakh per month for a Tree expert

The expert will guide, supervise, and monitor all processes related to the transplantation of trees affected by the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ project

The increasing pressure by citizens’ groups demanding no cutting of trees and transplanting them effectively has forced the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) to appoint a Tree expert to address these issues. The MMRCL will pay approximately Rs 21.94 lakhs (33,000 US dollars) per month to a tree surgeon (arborist) for the Metro III (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ) project as per their proposal letter submitted on Friday to the Bombay High Court.

The letter states that the MMRCL will deploy the Tree Surgeon named Simon Leong, (Director Urban Forester) for six months. The MMRCL will pay for his accommodation costing Rs 10.80 lakhs. His international air trips too will be paid with a ceiling of Rs 1.20 lakhs.

The MMRC has claimed that this tree surgeon will oversee the processes by providing tree consultancy services like Tree Risk Assessment, Design/Construction Impact Study, and Tree Preservation Zone. SK Gupta, Director of Projects, MMRC told the Free Press Journal, “The arborist is an expert and will guide, supervise, and monitor all the processes related to trees and their transplantation. He will see to it that the transplantation processes are technically sound so that the trees survive in a healthy way.”

The appointment of this expert was revealed after the citizens’ group questioned the MMRC about the transplantation process. Zoru Bhathena, an activist said, “The MMRC claimed that they will carry out the transplantation process by involving experts so we wanted to know who these experts are. The trees were cut in January but where this expert is and what about the transplantation of those trees?”

On the other hand, Gupta revealed that the MMRC has appointed this expert due to the constant pressure from citizen groups. “If citizens do not have faith that we can carry out the transplantation in an effective manner then we have to opt for experts. Transplantation is a complex process and the fact that we are spending so much money shows that we are going the extra mile. And, getting experts on board is not cheap,” Gupta added.

The Metro III line will lead to the cutting of 1074 trees. 1727 trees will be transplanted and 3222 trees will be planted as per the MMRCL.