Environmentalists urge BMC to stop construction firm from cutting trees at Vikhroli’s Godrej Garden in Mumbai

Mumbai: The large-scale cutting of trees at Godrej Garden in Vikhroli (West) hillside has shocked nature lovers, who have urged the BMC to immediately stop further axing and inquire into this green damage.According to government sources, a construction firm has received permission to cut over 180 trees and transplant 920 others for developmental works. Environmentalists alleged that since April 1, 50 huge trees — some of them over 60 years old — have been chopped along the route going towards Kailash Complex, Hiranandani.Environmentalist D Stalin of NGO Vanashakti said: "A formal complaint has been lodged with BMC's N ward office and also with the local police, since over 1,000 trees will be impacted at the Vikhroli hillside. This is a sad reflection of how development prevails over trees."As the complaint was filed recently, BMC officials have not yet given their feedback."It is really sad to see Mumbai lose its green cover to so-called developmental activities. Both infrastructure projects of the govt and construction projects of the private developers are stripping away Mumbai's tree cover. Instead of removing the trees, the land owners could have been given TDR to be used somewhere in non-ecologically sensitive areas of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. At this rate, Mumbai's temperatures will keep shooting up. We need to protect every single tree standing in Mumbai." .He added: "All talk of compensatory afforestation is humbug. If an independent audit is done, the truth of 85% failure of transplantation will be exposed. Sadly, the greed to make profits has made people forget their connection with nature."Activist B N Kumar of NatConnect Foundation said: "While the permission to cut or transplant trees has already been given, the suggestions and objections of the local residents should also be taken. Otherwise, Mumbai seems to be on a hectic tree-cutting and mangrove-cutting spree."Kumar added: "Mumbai's per capita tree cover is abysmally low — about one tree for every four persons — against a global benchmark of three trees per person. Urban planners must adopt and adhere to the 3-30-300 rule, which calls for every resident to see at least three trees from their home, live in a neighbourhood with a minimum 30% tree canopy cover, and have access to a green space within 300 metres."Nature lovers expressed that once trees are killed and ground filled with concrete, some fancy names like "green view" or "urban forest" will be given to the construction. One way or the other, Mumbai's natural heritage is being decimated and nothing is being done.