IE: BMC proposes to display names of trees for identification: August 28, 2008 | Trees : News Articles

BMC proposes to display names of trees for identification.......Mohan Kumar

The BMC has proposed to display the names of the trees on board for easy identification. This has been stated in an affidavit filed by the BMC to the Bombay High Court. The affidavit has been filed by Superintendent of Garden Vijaykumar Dande in response to a PIL challenging the procedure followed for cutting trees in Mumbai.

Awaaz Foundation, an NGO, had alleged that the procedure for seeking permission to cut trees for redevelopment is faulty. Dande, while denying the allegations has revealed that the final count of trees is only 19, 17,844 consisting of 366 varieties excluding mangroves and forest land. The affidavit reveals that of the nearly nine crore budget allotted for 2008-09, only Rs 2.5 crore has been utilized till June 2008. According to petitioner Sumaira Abdulali, the Tree Authority is always the last to know about cutting of trees and do not follow proper procedure to cut trees. It is the responsibility of the Tree Authority to maintain greenery in the urban areas.

The ‘tree cess’ worth Rs 100 crore collected as part of the property tax is not being used properly by the authority, the PIL alleged. Dande, however, states that the tree authority grants permission for chopping of trees after sufficient scrutiny and following due procedure. The petition further contends that “there is a clear and direct nexus between the builders and the BMC officials as well as the Tree Authority.” The petition goes on to say that there is a construction boom in the eastern and western suburbs of the city and the green cover is indeed disappearing in the name of development and there is no adequate mechanism in place regarding replacement and transplanting of the trees. It alleges that the authorities concerned have given permission to cut trees freely and there is no information regarding the steps that needs to be taken by the builders to ensure that adequate number of trees are planted in place of those have been cut for the purpose of construction.

Dande further states that Green Awards would be given to those who plant maximum number of trees and steps are being taken to develop tree gardens. The petition also states that “despite grant of more than required funds to the Tree Authority the same has been lying admittedly un-utilised. The PIL will come up for hearing on August 28.