South Bombay loses green spot as BMC starts axing trees

Mumbai: The BMC-run Tata Garden on Bhulabhai Desai Road (Warden Road) in south Mumbai has started cutting down trees, one of the largest in the city. It is hoped that a large portion of the 1.1-acre park will pave the way for the first handover of the proposed coastal road, which will extend to Malabar Hill, Peddar Road, and Mahalaxmi. In December 2018, the TOI first reported on BMC’s plans to acquire a portion of the garden for the Coastal Road project. The Tree Authority has permitted to cut down 61 trees and plant 79 trees between Bhulabhai Desai Road and Tata Garden. 

 

BMC officials said they plan to expand the garden to the sea. The contractor is doing woodcutting work with a horticulturist and consultants, which we check. A civilian official said the trees to be transplanted would be taken to an identified location in F North Ward. Breach Candy Welfare Group, who approached the court to protect the trees and conducted the ‘Rakhi Bando Vriksh Bachao Abhiyan’ in 2019. Nilesh Baxi said the cut was unfortunate. All of our requests have fallen on deaf ears because neither the courts nor the civic body is willing to pay attention, Baxi said. Activist Zoru Bhatena said plans to expand the garden could not be approved. Why destroy one garden to lead to another? 

 

He also said that employees have suggested alternatives to the unencumbered interchange. Signs of the need to cut down trees began as early as Thursday, said Navros Pathanki, who lives across the garden. He said I have been going to the garden for the last three decades and it is unfortunate to see trees being cut down.