Builders asked to replant trees

After receiving much flak over its decision to cut trees on World Earth Day, the tree authority of Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has gotten into damage control mode. The civic body has now asked builders to replant trees which they want cut before starting construction work.

On April 22, the TMC's tree authority drew lots of criticism for taking the decision to cut over 1400 trees for road widening work across the city. After receiving calls and messages from residents on the same day, the civic officials reversed this decision immediately.

Following the suit, civic commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal announced on April 27 that no builder will be allowed to hack trees from now on to further his construction work. "To maintain greenery of the city and conserve the green cover, it has been decided that no builder/developer will be given permission to cut trees," says Sandeep Malvi, public relations officer, TMC.

Though this decision sounds a blanket ban on tree cutting, when rephrased, it means that the builder has to replant the tree elsewhere rather than chopping it off. "Instead of the old rule of planting five trees for every tree cut, the developers from now on have to plant 15", says Malvi. Out of these 15 trees, five will be of the same variety as the replanted tree and the other 10 can be of any other kind. "The replanted tree should be more than five years old," he adds.

This has been done to meet TMC's target of planting 5lakh trees this year. The developer will be required to submit a proposal of where he would be planting these trees. A special committee consisting TMC officials and environmentalists was announced by the commissioner to scrutinize these proposals.

To encourage citizen participation in its initiative, TMC has appealed Thanekars to send in their suggestions. "If there is space in your society to plant trees, then inform TMC. We will come and plant trees there," said Malvi.

Chandrahas Tawde, one of the residents to raise the issue said that he welcomed the decision. "Finally something good is happening. Had they taken this decision earlier, many trees would have been saved," says the Thane activist. "I also feel that there is no need to have a special committee when the legitimate power lies with the commissioner to make decisions; he has been taking good decisions in this regard," he added