Mumbai is turning more grey and less green, thanks to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) which has mooted to hack 350 odd trees mainly to facilitate housing projects in western suburbs.  

In its public notification on Friday, the civic agency states that civic tree authority has received proposals for its consent to hack 349 trees in western suburbs of Bandra, Santacruz and Andheri. Majority of the proposal are for the housing projects under the slum rehabilitation authority (SRA).

194 trees will be cut for the redevelopment project of MIG Group at Gandhi Nagar, Bandra to set up a basement at the project. Additionally, 47 trees will be hacked for the projected construction of Indian Packaging Industry in Marol Industrial Area, Andheri. Two proposed SRA projects at Andheri East have also asked for permission to hack 32 trees each.

"The hacking of trees cannot be avoided for these projects. But we will make sure that minimum number of trees would be cut for this project," informed a senior civic official.

The BMC seeks suggestions and objections from citizens within seven days of the issuance of notice. Thereafter, the proposal will be tabled for endorsement before the civic tree authority in its next meeting.

According to the civic rules, if a tree has removed for the developmental projects, at least two trees in lieu of this have to be sowed at other places. However, once consent to hack trees was given, the builder ignores it and does not sow saplings, reveal civic officials.