Maharashtra Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray has asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to not cut a single tree amidst the protests against BMC’s Powai lake cycle track project from green activists. They have alleged that trees will be hacked and green space will be lost.
While talking to the Times of India, Thackeray said that the real green activists and scientists have seen the project and discussed it thoroughly with the civic body. He had asked BMC not to cut a single tree or change any natural surroundings from the beginning.
Mentioning about the sewage flowing in the lakes and that the lake has shrunk by 20%, Thackeray said that all sewage lines would be stopped. BMC will be installing on-invasive water aerators that will improve water quality.
He said that the green space belonging to Mumbai would be free. The waterfront is four times the size of Marine Drive and Powai needs the lake to be an urban open green space for citizens of Powai to enjoy.
Civic administration has also set up a panel of state environmental experts to discuss the lake’s development, but the activists have said that the committee is only for name sake. Thackeray said that it would be a joke to doubt the committee of experts and their scope of work.
For a long time, activists, environmentalists and citizens have been protesting against the cycling track work at Powai Lake. AAP's Mumbai Unit also protested against the construction work while a BJP MP, Manoj Kotak, wrote a letter to the municipal commissioner urging him to cancel the work.
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