MMRDA gets nimble with green fingers, goes beyond target

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) working on a feverish pace has achieved 80 per cent of the target of planting trees under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). The target was set to be achieved by the end of 2006.

The widening and construction of new roads in the city has resulted in a major loss of tree count. To make the project eco-friendly, it was decided to go for a major plantation drive. The project has proved to be one of the largest plantation projects in the country.

The number of new trees to be planted as per the instruction of the Tree Authority of India (TAI) was set at 3,686, of which 3,160 has already been planted. "However, we are going to plant 10,000 trees by the next year," said Vikas Tondwalkar, joint project director (environment), MMRDA.

This number, (10,000) will be around three times more of what is required by the TAI.

The total number of trees affected by the MUTP sub-projects has been put at 4818, which includes 1,843 trees to be cut and 2,975 to be transplanted. The Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) and the Santa Cruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) account for more than 3,600 trees. Till now, 762 trees have been cut and 835 have been transplanted. As per the TAI directive, every tree which has been cut has to be balanced by planting two new trees.

Usually, the survival rate in case of transplanted trees is not more than 50 per cent, but MMRDA has met with phenomenal success. "In our case, the rate has substantially risen to 70-80 per cent," said Tondwalkar.

The implementing agencies of plantation are MSRDC, MCGM and MRVC. There are some sub-projects, which are yet to be approved by the tree authority. It is assumed that for the sub-projects, where approvals are still sought for, 40 per cent of the trees will be required to be cut and the rest will be transplanted.

Majority of the 10,000 trees, which are in excess to the proposed number by the Tree Authority, will be planted in the Aarey Colony, near Goregaon. At the same time, the development authority is set to raise shrubs in between the JVLR and SCLR as divider to enhance the green quotient.