The civic body-s plans for the Gargai dam in the Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary involve eating up 720 hectares of forest land and destruction of over four lakh trees, which is equal to the tree population of the entire Aarey Milk Colony. The BMC is silent about the colossal tree loss, since the project-s announcement, a front page report in this paper stated.

The indigenous trees that are on the block, if this goes though, are integral to the rich ecosystem of the 720-hectare land. The Gargai dam is meant to meet the present and future drinking water requirements of the city. In addition, 280 tribal families staying in seven nearby villages will also have to be rehabilitated.