Nod to cut trees for commercial project irks BMC officials

Upset over the permission granted to hack 481 trees for a commercial project of the Oberoi group in Goregaon (east), some members of the tree authority committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) staged a walkout from the meeting on Friday.

Upset over the permission granted to hack 481 trees for a commercial project of the Oberoi group in Goregaon (east), some members of the tree authority committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) staged a walkout from the meeting on Friday.

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According to the members, last year, too, the group had received permissions to cut 278 trees, including 11 dead trees, for the same project. “Despite our objections, the civic chief has agreed to the move. We will take legal action if the proposal is not revoked,” said Ameet Satam, a tree authority member, who walked out of the meeting.

However, according to committee members Dnyanraj Nikam and Dhananjay Pisal, who visited the plot last week, the permission was granted after thorough examination.

“Despite the approval, we will allow the trees to be hacked only after the developer gives us a clear plan with an assurance to replant the trees,” said Nikam.

“The developers have promised to give us a written draft of the exact locations of the transplanted trees. Currently, talks are on to transplant the trees to Aarey Colony, Mumbai University campus and home guards ground in Ghatkopar (west),” said Pisal.