New trees planted after Metro work axing, thanks to activists
MMRCL undertook the green drive after greens approached the committee appointed by high court; May 31 deadline for the job
The Churchgate residents were pleasantly surprised when they saw new trees – a symbol of victory for civic activism – standing on the bare traffic islands outside Eros Cinema. The trees have been planted to compensate for the peepuls axed at the site for the underground Metro 3. When the trees were cut down, the locals were sceptical that the traffic island's green cover would ever be restored. Thanks to vigilant activists who approached the Bombay High Court-appointed committee to oversee compensatory plantations for trees lost during the Metro's construction, the traffic islands are now greener than ever before.
The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) which is building the Cuffe Parade-SEEPZ corridor, undertook the green drive only after a May 31 deadline was fixed on April 18 by the committee. It had asked the MMRCL and other respondents, including the BMC, to cover 7075% of the traffic island with trees and landscaping.
At the meeting, civic activist Zoru Bathena, representing the petitioners in the 2017 plea against the felling of trees for the rail project, pointed out that the MMRCL had submitted the drawings of a total of 12 stations. As per the committee's directions, the group visited the stations and found that except at Siddhivinayak, no trees were planted. According to the minutes of the meeting, the MMRCL informed the committee that they had planted 97 trees and removed roughly 2,000.
When the trees were cut down in 2019, citizens had called it 'diabolic' and 'sad'. The traffic island was being
used as a parking lot before it was dug up for the Metro, but the ground had some large trees, said Nayana Kathpalia, trustee of Nagar (resident association) and OVAL (civic group). “I am very happy that various trees have been planted in the traffic islands opposite the Eros Cinema. Hopefully, they will be looked after and grow to their full potential,” said the Churchgate resident.
Another issue discussed at the meeting was geo-tagging the trees planted. Bathena told the commission that the MMRCL has said that it cannot issue work orders for geotagging because of the poll code of conduct. He pointed out that the government agencies building other Metro projects have been issuing
tenders. An intervenor in the petition also told the committee that vendors have already encroached on footpaths rebuilt after the Metro construction.
The advocate for MMRCL told the committee that they have completed 90% of the station work and every site excavated for the project will be restored. Tree plantings will be done after ascertaining the available depth and the landfill that can be done so that the roots of the trees do not disturb the underground utility services. The MMRCL also promised to explore the possibility of seeking legal opinion and file an application before the Election Commission, seeking permission to issue the tender for geo-tagging work.