Maharashtra: Environmental row erupts in Kharghar as PMC allows felling of 24 mature trees

Trees axed in Kharghar’s Sector 34B

A major environmental row has erupted in Kharghar's Sector 34B, where the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) has granted permission to a prominent educational trust to axe 24 mature trees.

While local residents are up in arms, claiming that a plot originally designated for a public park has been quietly leased out by CIDCO for institutional use, the PMC Tree Authority maintains that the permission is legally sound and heavily conditional.

Permission granted

According to official documents accessed by mid-day, the permission was granted by PMC's Tree Authority to the Mumbai-based Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal (SVKM). The trust, which operates the nearby premium NMIMS (Narsee Monjee) campus, sought the removal of the trees on Plot No. 01 to develop a playground for their upcoming ‘Composite School & Jr College'.

The notice on the barricaded site confirms SVKM's possession. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The notice on the barricaded site warns trespassers of legal action, confirming SVKM's possession. The PMC order states that these trees were right in the middle of the plot and were causing an obstruction to the development of the school playground.

Nature sacrificed

The permission letter, digitally signed by Swarup Manik Kharage, deputy commissioner and tree officer of PMC, on May 15, reveals that out of 56 trees on the plot, 24 were being chopped. The flora on the property include four wild (Jangli) trees, 14 tamarind (vilayati chinch) trees, two babool, two jamun, two savar, two mango, and one karanj tree.

Trust must plant over 200 saplings

To offset the environmental damage, the PMC has directed SVKM to plant a whopping 211 new saplings within 30 days of receiving the letter. The trust has also deposited a security amount of R2,40,000 with the civic body. As per the terms of the permission, the school management must submit a quarterly progress report of the newly planted saplings for the next seven years. Failure to maintain the new green cover will result in the forfeiture of their R2.4 lakh deposit and invite criminal action under the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975.

‘SVKM was not aware'

When mid-day attempted to contact the Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal Chairman, Amrish Patel, his office stated that Patel was currently in his constituency and they were not aware of any tree cutting taking place at the plot in Kharghar.

Voices

Binu Thankappan, resident of Sector 34
‘We were under the impression that this open space would be developed into a green public park for the neighbourhood. Why is public land being handed over to private educational giants at the expense of Kharghar's depleting green cover?'

Vijay Sah, security guard stationed at the plot
‘Around 12 trees were cut down on Saturday. The cutting started at around 9 am and went on until 8 pm. There was a permission for the same'

May 15
Day permission was given