Over 61% Trees Transplanted By MMRCL During Metro 3 Work In Aarey Forest Have Died
A High-Court-appointed inspection committee found out that 61% of the trees planted by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited MMRCL during Metro 3 work have died. The committee has been visiting the site where the felled trees were transplanted for over three days now. The poor survival rate of the transplanted trees indicates that Metro authority did not take proper precautions while deciding on transplantation.
The ¡®Green Lungs of Mumbai¡¯, Aarey forest, has been a burning topic for a few months now. A month ago, it was reported that 800 of the 1800 trees that were transplanted by MMRCL, died.
Now, a High-Court-appointed inspection committee found out that 61% of the trees planted by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) during Metro 3 work have died. The committee has been visiting the site where the felled trees were transplanted, for over three days now, according to Times Of India.
AFP
The MMRCL submitted a detailed report on the trees planted in Aarey and Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The report said that the MMRCL uprooted more than 1,561 trees on the Colaba to Seepz (Andheri) line, that were hampering construction work, and they were transplanted to 31 different locations over the last few years. Of these, 956 trees (61%) have died.
The poor survival rate of the transplanted trees indicates that Metro authority did not take proper precautions while deciding on transplantation. Tree activist Zoru Bhathena said that the authority needs to check the health of a tree before uprooting and they must follow the prescribed procedure to ensure that it doesn¡¯t die of shock.
AFP
¡°Like a human organ transplant, similar precaution needs to be taken for trees. They should not dump the trees just in some empty space without examining if the soil will help the trees¡¯ growth or not. In Aarey, they transplanted most of the trees on finding empty spaces and without applying mind. For years trees didn¡¯t grow on those spots due to unfriendly soil condition, how could it help the transplanted trees?¡± Bhathena asked.
Other experts also pointed out at the same thing and said that one needs to take precautions while uprooting trees.
AFP
It is high time that we as a society should do our best to protect the nature and not just for us but for the future generations too. It is sad to see that the government we vote for, can't even be trusted to protect forests because their vested interests only supports development. But it was really good to see people coming out and getting together in support to save the forest.
Picture Credits: ANI
