Mumbai GMLR and Manori desalination projects may affect 2543 trees activists file objections

The proposed GoregaonndashMulund Link Road GMLR and Manori desalination projects could affect 2543 trees prompting animal welfare and environmental organisations to file objections with the BMC Tree AuthorityThe organisations have sought detailed assessments of wildlife habitats including those supporting birds snakes reptiles small mammals and pollinating insects before any treefelling or transplantation is allowedThe organisations submitted their written objections on October 29 raising concerns over the proposed interventions and seeking greater transparency in the decisionmaking processpopcorn numberOct 29 descDay the written objections were submitted classDefaultSeveral objectionsThe International Organisation for Animal Protection OIPA Amma Care Foundation ACF and the Plant amp Animals Welfare SocietyMumbai PAWSMumbai submitted written objections to the Tree Authority against the projects Parivartan Pratishthan Aastha Animal Welfare Foundation and People for AnimalsPalghar have also filed objections against the respective proposals They also raised concerns over the potential impact of the projects on green cover biodiversity and natural wildlife habitatsGoregaonMulund Link RoadAccording to the public notice for the proposed GMLR which will connect the Western Express Highway at Goregaon to the Airoli Toll Naka in Mulund 1524 trees are likely to be affected Of these 858 are proposed to be felled and 666 transplantedlsquoAssessment neededrsquoThe organisations have demanded a comprehensive environmental assessment and a joint physical inspection of the project site before any action is taken against the trees They have stressed the need to assess habitats of birds snakes reptiles and other wildlife as well as their natural movement corridors in the surrounding areas They have also sought public disclosure of individual records of all affected trees including their age species health condition and ecological significance The authorities have been urged to explore alternative engineering designs and alignments to minimise tree fellinglsquoMust monitor trees that are transplantedrsquoThe organisations have further demanded that trees proposed for transplantation be relocated wherever feasible to suitable sites close to their original locations They have called for monitoring of transplanted trees for at least three to five years to assess their survival and growth along with effective implementation of compensatory plantation measures The organisations have also insisted that transplantation be carried out under the supervision of qualified arborists with survival assessments at 12 24 and 36 monthsManori desalination projectThe proposed seawater desalination project at Manori in Borivli West has an initial capacity of 200 million litres per day MLD with plans to expand it to 400 MLD in the future According to the treerelated public notice issued for the project 1019 trees across five locations have been identified The proposal involves felling 42 trees and transplanting 952Marine ecology concernsThe organisations have said that the environmental assessment for the Manori desalination project should go beyond the impact on trees and examine the potential consequences of seawater intake operations and the discharge of concentrated brine into the marine environment They have called for a detailed assessment of habitats supporting birds reptiles small mammals and pollinating insects in and around the project area and also sought public disclosure of all relevant environmental clearances pollution control permissions coastal regulationrelated approvals and associated assessment reportsProposed tree interventionsgtgt Dahisar East Sant Dnyaneshwar Marg Of the 13 existing trees one is proposed to be felled and one transplantedgtgt Borivli West Town Planning Scheme No 3 Final Plot No 102 Of the 24 existing trees four are proposed to be felled and 11 transplantedgtgt Manori desalination project site Of the 971 existing trees 28 are proposed to be felled and 939 transplantedgtgt Kandivli West small bridge on BPipeline of Poisar River Jawaharlal Ramsumer Yadav Marg Of the nine existing trees eight are proposed to be felled and one transplantedgtgt Kandivli West 1340metrewide Development Plan road connecting MG Road to Bundarpakhadi Lake Road in RNA area Of the two existing trees one is proposed to be felled and the other transplantedJoint inspections demandedFor both projects the organisations have urged the authorities to conduct joint site inspections in the presence of their representatives They have demanded that no action be taken against the affected trees until independent and comprehensive environmental assessments are completed They have also sought appropriate interim measures under applicable laws proper consideration of all objections and reasoned written responses addressing each concern raisedlsquoNot against developmentrsquoClarifying their stand the organisations said that they were not opposed to development projects but wanted to ensure that infrastructure expansion did not come at the cost of green cover biodiversity and wildlife habitatslsquoMust consider alternativesrsquoSunish Subramanian Kunju honorary wildlife warden Mumbai suburban Maharashtra Forest DepartmentlsquoMaintaining a balance between development and environmental conservation is the need of the hour Trees are not merely green cover they are natural habitats for countless birds snakes reptiles and other wildlife Proposed interventions affecting thousands of trees are not simply about the loss of individual trees but raise serious concerns about the survival of entire ecosystems and biodiversityProtecting the natural movement corridors and habitats of wildlife particularly in areas adjoining Sanjay Gandhi National Park is extremely important I strongly urge the authorities to undertake comprehensive environmental and wildlife habitat assessments and conduct joint site inspections for both projects Alternative routes and engineering solutions must be explored to minimise treefellingNature cannot be restored merely by making promises of transplantation Development must not endanger wildlife or destroy their natural habitats in the name of infrastructure expansion Protecting nature is not merely the responsibility of environmental activists it is a collective responsibility that we all sharersquo