Dinesh Kamath's news 'Don’t just plant trees but ensure their survival too, say Environmental Activists' that was published in Newsband

Don’t just plant trees but ensure their survival too, say Environmental Activists

By Dinesh Kamath

Above: Planting trees in the city

Above: Destruction of trees in the city

NAVI MUMBAI: It is not enough for the civic body to increase green cover through a massive tree plantation drive in July, but Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation should consider the maintenance of the plants, activists said.

The activist further said, “Mass Plantation Drives has become a common affair but who will ensure the survival of all the saplings that are planted? National Forest Policy says that there should be at least 33% green cover and this can be possible only if NMMC ensures survival of all the saplings planted. Also the longevity of the plants should be ensured.”

He added, “Another thing is NMMC should stop permitting hacking of trees in the name of development. What’s the point in nurturing the trees for years if NMMC passes on the orders to get those trees hacked to make it possible for them to implement some developmental project? Then what is the use of spending so much energy, efforts and also money for tree plantation?”

This behaviour of NMMC authorities was what led to the forming of a group called Harit Navi Mumbai (HNM) by city residents and also environmental activists. Their goal was to promote city’s greenery and biodiversity. This organization entertains complaints from city residents who are witnesses to illegal tree destructions or exploitation of flora and fauna in Navi Mumbai.

During the past few years, both the State and Central Government have realized the importance of preservation of greenery in all the states and country as a whole and they have come up with certain eco guidelines which should be implemented properly by the local governing bodies.

Navi Mumbai is well known for presence of long stretch of mangroves and the activists here keep a continuous watch on those persons who might indulge in destruction of these mangroves. These activists appealed to the High Court when they became witnesses to illegal destruction of trees and mangroves in the city. They were supported by the eminent lawyers of the city. These moves by the environmental activists did reduce the destructive activities carried out by the miscreants but there is need to ensure that there is absolutely no destruction of greenery taking place anywhere in the city.

NMMC authorities have been found getting well grown trees hacked if there is any concretization works to be done at the place where these trees exist. The activists have appealed to the civic body to stop this practise immediately and not to do any concretization works where such well-grown trees exist. The activists feel that NMMC can surely carry out such works in barren places where trees do not exist. Both NMMC and City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) have resorted to destroying trees to make space available for concretization over nullahs or constructing parks in spite of strong opposition by city’s renowned environmental activists. These activists have several time sent their delegations to brief the authorities on the negative impact the destruction of greenery could have on the city. With the passing of time more and more residents of Navi Mumbai are becoming aware of the importance of greenery and they don’t hesitate to join hands with the environmental activists to try and help preserve the green covers of the city.

An activist say that the trees get choked when any concretising activity takes place around them. This was noticed when Navi Mumbai’s civic body had begun concretisation of a number of roads and construction of new footpaths across the city. The explanation given by the civic body was that they were intending to make the city Smart. The activists retorted that preservation of Greenery in the city was most necessary for the city to appear smart. They said that just concretisation work does not go to make any city smart. These activists were provoked by the flouting of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) rules by the civic body. The NGT Act of 2010 says that a radius area of 6X6 feet around trees cannot be concretised. But there are structures in Navi Mumbai which were constructed by flouting this particular rule. The activist question as to how permissions to raise such structures are given in the first place. They asked whether the departments of civic body were run by people not qualified enough to understand the importance of environment. On investigation with the help of Right to Information (RTI) it was found that some of these officers were indeed not qualified enough.

“These officials are corrupt and make millions through the construction of gardens and paver blocks along the road, without bothering about the rules," said an activist who got this information from a garden authority who had no choice but to carry out the orders from the top. The activists have suggested to the NMMC authorities to check the eligibility of the persons who are made to run the department that is connected with sensitive subject like environment. They further added that the persons appointed for such works should have at least a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture and Agriculture.