Nature lovers have formally complained to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner regarding the cutting of a healthy tree at a redevelopment site in Powai's Rambaug Lane on May 4. According to the complaint, another tree in the vicinity has been damaged as its base is covered with concrete. Activists have urged the civic body to take immediate steps to save the surviving tree, which is located next to the Ram Ashram bus stop, from further harm.
BMC Commissioner Forwards Complaint
Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has forwarded the complaint to the additional municipal commissioner (eastern suburbs), Dr Avinash Dhakne, for further action. The complaint was filed by NatConnect Foundation, an environmental group that has been actively monitoring tree preservation in Mumbai.
Concerns Over Tree Vulnerability
NatConnect Foundation highlighted that the surviving tree near the Ram Ashram bus stop has become vulnerable due to the shifting of the redevelopment site's entrance by the developers. The organization emphasized the critical role of mature trees in combating rising temperatures, worsening air quality, and the broader threat of climate change.
"At a time when Mumbai is facing rising temperatures, worsening air quality and the broader threat of climate change, the preservation of every mature tree has become a civic and environmental necessity," said NatConnect director B N Kumar.
Environmental Impact of Concrete
Environmentalists point out that excessive cement around a tree's base can suffocate its roots, block water absorption, and eventually lead to the tree's death. The complainant has called for an immediate inquiry into whether due permission from the BMC's gardens department was obtained before the tree was cut. If violations are found, the complainant urges authorities to initiate legal action against those responsible.
This incident highlights the ongoing conflict between urban development and environmental conservation in Mumbai, where rapid redevelopment often threatens the city's green cover. Activists continue to demand stricter enforcement of tree protection laws and greater accountability from developers.
