2700 trees to be cleared in Mumbai to accommodate a metro carshed

MUMBAI: The Tree Authority of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on August 29, approved the razing of 2700 trees in Bombay’s Aarey Colony area in order to clear out land for the development of a Metro carshed.

A senior civic official said that Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRCL), which is constructing the Metro, put up the proposal to cut 2,232 trees and promised to compensate by planting three times as many trees elsewhere in the city.

“MMRCL also sought permission to remove and transplant another 469 trees,” the official said, adding that before giving the approval, the members of the authority had inspected the site.

Manoj Kotak, the group leader in the civic house, backed the proposal. “Metro is extremely essential for the city and it is everybody’s duty to support infrastructure-related work. In fact, metro will not only save fuel but will also protect the environment,” Kotak told PTI.