How green was my city!

Sir Pheroze and Lady Flora rue the high summer temperatures and the city’s dwindling tree cover. ILLUSTRATION COURTESY/UDAY MOHITE

It was one of those rare days when Sir PM and Lady Flora decided to meet before sundown at Oval Maidan. She hoped that, being a public holiday, they wouldn't be bothered by curious stares, or tourists and sportspeople who throng the open space, given how starved the city is of such locations. They were right. It was a delightfully pleasant crowd-free sight that greeted them as they met by the Rajabai Tower entry to Oval Maidan.

But what they weren't expecting was the energy-sapping humidity as soon as they began their slow walk under the shade of the tree cover that lined the maidan. The trees were a blessing. Their quaint hand fans had no chance against the rays of the setting sun that pierced through the gaps created by the grid-like Art Deco ensemble of buildings that faced the maidan. "Thank goodness, the visionary architects and planners of these apartments also ensured the Arabian Sea's breeze flowed into the island city," lauded Lady Flora, as she wiped the perspiration off her temples. "This 22-acre space was popular among citizens back in the day for this reason, plus before these buildings emerged, they could enjoy uninterrupted views of the sea. Importantly, this maidan is home to 540 trees till date. I was thrilled when, all those years ago, it was included as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that comprised the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensemble. At least such global stamps will ensure that these green gems are protected in our neck of the woods… can we actually say such things in today's times?" she asked, sarcastically.

Sir PM was in worse shape; he realised a bit too late that his usual suited wardrobe was a bad idea, especially away from the cool interiors of his chambers. "My Lady, I'm going to have to retire my suits until the rains arrive, if this is what we have to endure," he sighed.

"Pheroze, if this is our plight, here in a well-planned, protected urban space, pray, what might be the state of our often-unchecked suburbs? Percy [the pigeon, for the uninitiated] was recounting horror stories that he and his clan had been observing; he was worried about the noticeable loss of tree cover since last year. It's quite shocking to allow the city to move towards an ecologically dangerous scenario," said an alarmed Lady Flora, adding, "I've been reading disturbing news reports, including in this newspaper, of how thousands of trees are under threat of being hacked, or have already been felled due to the slew of simultaneous infrastructure projects that crisscross the city and the suburbs. The most recent is the felling order for over 2000 trees, including a park in Versova, for the extension of Coastal Road along the western seafront. It has been cited as a ‘critical' project, and hence necessary," she frowned.

"My Lady, wasn't there a spate of such shocking orders these last few years? I recall the verdict come down on the verdant tree cover along sections of the Eastern Express Highway to accommodate the extension of the Eastern Freeway, plus there's the double-barrel nightmare that spells doom for the lush tree cover along the eastern side of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) - the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road and the Thane-Borivli Twin Tunnel project," Sir PM informed, reminding his friend of his old Thane connections, "A few lawyer buddies from my High Court days still live there. They are appalled at the undoing of their once-forested suburb. They say it will be an uphill task to reintroduce green cover that's been sacrificed in the name of development."

"I didn't realise you had such far-flung contacts," Lady Flora smiled for the first time during their muggy evening stroll. "It used to be my monthly weekend trip; we'd go fishing by Thane Creek, and trekking up the fort. I shudder to imagine what's become of those green swathes; best to keep the old memories intact," he agreed. "Our environmentalists are swimming against the tide. While such orders require that trees be replanted elsewhere, they maintain [backed by valid data] that not every tree species can necessarily thrive away from the original soil in which it was first planted. Surely there must be a scientific way to protect a seaside city," argued Lady Flora.

It was sundown, and the air felt pleasant. They looked skyward. "May the rain gods oblige soon. But more urgently, I hope our civic gods see sense, and realise that climate change is already impacting us. There won't be any city left to develop if our tree cover comes under threat for every new project."

mid-day's Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city's sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her. She tweets @bombayana
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