3L trees cut along Samruddhi h’way, 35k Eway: MLC | Mumbai News
Mumbai: In a calling attention motion in the legislative council on Thursday, MLC Amol Mitkari highlighted the issue of cutting down “lakhs of trees along national highways, state, and district roads in Maharashtra”. Mitkari claimed that 3 lakh trees were felled along the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Highway, 2 lakh along the Ratnagiri-Nagpur Highway, 35,000 along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, 12,000 along the Pune-Bangalore Road, and 1,400 along the Kolhapur-Kale Road.Addressing the legislative council, Mitkari stated that large trees along the roads were disappearing, which was leading to environmental degradation and had adverse effects on the state’s environment and citizens’ health. He alleged that the govt’s negligence in this regard could disturb the natural chain in the future, causing distress to both citizens and wildlife.State public works department (PWD) minister Shivendra Raje Bhosale responded by announcing an inquiry based on the information provided by Mitkari. Bhosale said the inquiry would look into all highways to check how many trees were planted in lieu of those felled and how many survived. He further explained that trees were cut for infrastructure development and only with required permissions. “Nothing has been done illegally anywhere,” he informed the Upper House.Bhosale said in addition to planting trees, it is important to ensure their survival. Therefore, a system will be established for the regular inspection of the condition of the trees.Geo-tagging is being implemented to ensure the survival of trees. Additionally, information about the trees being nurtured will be maintained through AI. “Action is being taken against contractors who do not plant trees as per regulations. Now, the responsibility of ensuring the survival of the planted trees will also be assigned to them,” he added.Congress MLC Satej Patil called for a meeting of council members with the minister to review the entire tree-cutting process and assess what kind of trees were cut or planted in lieu of those felled, to which the minister agreed. MLC Uma Khapre inquired if any tree transplanting was conducted, and the minister responded in the affirmative.
