The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Tree Authority is set to consider proposals involving 3,169 trees at its meeting on Tuesday, with permissions sought to fell 1,777 trees and transplant 1,392 for several infrastructure and redevelopment projects across Mumbai.
The proposals relate to projects including the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), the Orange Gate-Marine Drive underground tunnel, an IIT Bombay residential development in Powai and a slum rehabilitation project in Ghatkopar.
The largest proposal has been submitted by Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. The developer has sought permission to remove 1,693 trees that would be affected by excavation work for rehabilitation buildings on Sub Plot-B within Dharavi’s notified area.
According to the proposal, inspections carried out in May identified 2,006 trees at the site, of which 1,693 are expected to be impacted by the planned construction. The developer has sought approval to cut 871 trees, including seven that have already fallen, while 822 trees are proposed to be transplanted. The remaining trees will be retained.
The proposal also notes that 24 trees slated for felling are between 50 and 85 years old. Additionally, 25 heritage trees were identified at the site, of which 24 are proposed to be cut and one transplanted.
As part of the compensatory afforestation plan, the developer has committed to planting 22,904 indigenous saplings, each at least six feet tall, within 15 days of receiving tree-felling approval. The plantation will be carried out on 90 acres of land at Chahade village in Palghar district, supported by a no-objection certificate from the landowner. The developer has also undertaken to maintain the plantation for seven years.
Overall, nearly 8,000 trees are expected to be impacted across the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, with around 30,000 additional trees proposed to be planted within available open spaces across the project area.
Another key proposal relates to the Orange Gate-Marine Drive underground tunnel connecting the Eastern Freeway with the Coastal Road. Larsen & Toubro has sought approval to remove 66 trees affected by the revised Option-E alignment. Of these, three trees are proposed to be felled, 63 transplanted, while 18 trees at the site will remain untouched. A joint inspection conducted in March identified 84 trees, although only 66 fall within the project boundary.
The Tree Authority will also examine IIT Bombay’s proposal for residential buildings in Powai. The institute has sought permission to remove 160 trees, including 49 proposed for felling and 111 for transplantation, while 99 trees will remain unaffected. One tree had already fallen naturally before the inspection.
Another proposal concerns a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project in Ghatkopar (East) by Ratan Builders. After revising its layout following BMC directions to minimise tree loss, the developer is now seeking permission to cut 18 trees and transplant 15, while retaining 11 trees.
The proposals come amid increasing public scrutiny over tree removal linked to large-scale infrastructure and redevelopment projects. The Tree Authority, constituted under the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, is required to assess whether tree felling is unavoidable and whether adequate efforts have been made to retain or transplant trees before approving.
Source: The Times of India
