As Bombaywallahs grapple with unpredictable weather throughout 2025, including a recent wet pre-Diwali spell, our sutradhaars wonder when the penny will drop for the powers-that-be to get serious about greener solutions
Trees along the Eastern Express Highway carry notices of the proposed felling to make way for the elevated extension road. Pic/Fiona Fernandez
Sir PM didn’t look too thrilled that he had to lug his large patio umbrella along for their midnight stroll, all over again. “I thought we had seen the last of these messy showers,” he scowled, constantly checking if his off-white trousers had picked up mud stains along the way. “Tell me about it! It’s bad enough I’ve been under this veil for a while now; it’s suffocating, as you’d imagine, and then these unseasonal showers! It’s not even like British weather, where those little rainy spells cool the place down; it’s quite the opposite here,” she grumbled, as both friends decided it was best to halt within the Holy Name Cathedral complex on Wodehouse Road, where the tree cover and shaded seating by the entrance offered respite for the pitter-patter.
“Thank goodness for this foliage. What sanctuary it offers!” remarked Sir PM as he settled down, grateful that he wouldn’t have to pay extra to launder his new trousers. “Look around; it’s wonderful that these giant trees have been allowed to survive and thrive. Their vintage must be fairly old, going by their wrinkled barks,” he added, in his attempt to sound every bit the arborist. “I am glad that this section of SoBo was spared from being part of the route for the new Metro Line. What horror stories I’ve been hearing from my informers, particularly in the suburbs, of the vanishing green cover to make way for this grand infrastructure project.
Our pal, Percy [the pigeon, for the uninitiated], has been crying hoarse because there’s no space to perch for a breather from the heat, while he’s on the rounds in those parts, he tells me,” Lady Flora added, as she pulled out a few newspaper clippings from her cloth bag. “Look at the number of news reports that I have collected from just these past few weeks, including from this newspaper, after proposed tree felling across infrastructure projects within the city and the suburbs themselves.”
Sir PM took the next five minutes to study those reports; Lady Flora couldn’t wait to say her two bits, “It’s disturbing and distressing, given how the civic body and other authorities connected with such projects seem to be okay with such eco-unfriendly decisions. The most recent shocker is that hundreds of trees might have to be felled along the Eastern Express Highway to accommodate the elevated road from Thane and Ghatkopar.
Most recently, in an update, I read that the authorities will replant these affected trees as part of the compensatory afforestation.” Sir PM was listening throughout, “Oh and yes, I had also read that tree cover will be cleared because of the Mulund Goregaon Link Road project. While compensatory afforestation once again has been announced, I am hopeful that this process is strictly followed,” he rued. Lady Flora threw her hands in the air, exasperated, “Pheroze, this is my biggest fear.
While all of these assurances will be signed on the dotted lines, they might become forgotten documents as time goes by. Checks and accountability are virtues that are tough to adhere to, as we’ve seen on countless occasions with infrastructure projects over time. With climate change hovering its ugly head all over India, especially its threatened urban centres and seaside cities like ours, I wonder what new natural calamities are waiting to strike us? There won’t be any city left by the time these replanted trees have a chance to grow,” Lady Flora warned.
Sir PM’s temples began to show worry lines. “Today’s babus forget that we were a cluster of seven islands before we were reclaimed as one land mass. We had a rich tree cover with abundant coconut palms and rice plantations. To the north, we were blessed with mangroves and this tropical fauna-blessed forest. Soon, we will resemble any other Tier II or Tier III city… character-less concrete and glass, with haphazard, eco-unfriendly layouts. Sure, these infrastructure projects are vital and will help citizens, but I fail to understand why we cannot use our own brilliant minds, our visionary planners, to help figure out ways to avoid this in the first place. I am no expert, but can every replanted tree survive in its new location? Is there an environmentally friendly, scientific method to ensure this can safely happen for all afforestation in the city? Can we expect accountability where our green cover is adequately compensated?”
Lady Flora looked skyward, “It’s stopped raining. I hope it’s the last of these unseasonal showers for this year. And I hope it ‘rains’ some common sense on our civic authorities to remind them that the city’s green cover shouldn’t be carelessly disturbed; else we’d better gear for a year-long monsoon next year, and higher laundry bills for dear Pheroze,” she winked, tongue firmly in cheek.
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. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
