Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation was heckled when it cleared its stand on deforestation for Metro 3 project. MMRC then declared that they will do afforestation to compensate for the loss of green cover. However the place chosen by MMRC is a marshy land, according to petitioners,
Aarey, Kalina, and Wadala are the places where MMRC will plant the trees. In Colaba and Cuff Parade, MMRC will be cutting down 507 trees and they will be planting those many on 4.2 hectares area. As this area belongs to the BMC, the latter gave the permission for afforestation. However, petitioners say that this land is not suitable for afforestation.
Environmentalist Girish Raut slammed this move saying that the survival rate of such afforestation was 5-7% a decade ago and today its almost negligible. Plus even if marshy land is reclaimed and used for afforestation, the survival rate of such trees is next to nil.
According to the petitioners, a marshy land is a bad option for afforestation. They also added that it is a rule that trees should be planted within 30 days of deforestation but the same was not done. 100 Trees were cut in February yet no trees were planted. Petitioners and ‘Save Aarey’ are planning to protest against the MMRC and BMC for lackadaisical attitude.
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