Residents of Sanpada have objected to the relocation of 81 trees for widening of an internal road in Sector 8 and planned a protest against the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) for the move.
The NMMC notices pasted on the tress said the trees would have to be transplanted for the road-widening work. But the residents claimed they had planted the trees in 2004. The trees include 79 pheltophorum trees, one Indian almond, and one alstonia tree.
“When we had shifted here in 2004, there was not a single tree. Children from our society have watered and nurtured the trees over the years. In fact, the children have grown with them. We have cool breeze and shade because of these trees,” Nayana Chikane, a resident of Suyog housing society, said.
Various associations and political parties along with individuals have sent objection letters to the NMMC. “Close to 15 objection letters have been sent. We hope justice is done to the environment. This internal road doesn’t have any traffic issues. Every year, we plant 10 trees across Sanpada, and we won’t let them go,” Ajay Pawar, joint secretary, Akhil Sanpada Sanskrutik Pratishthan, said.
The road, which extends from plot number 12 to 21 in Sector 8, is 11 metres wide. “How can the government think of removing 81 trees just to increase the width of the road by four metres? The NMMC pledges to plant one lakh trees every year, then why uproot the fully-grown trees? All the residents, including children, are ready to protest this if needed. We have been called for a meeting at the NMMC on Monday and depending on the outcome of the meeting, we will take a call,” Ghanshyam Pate, secretary of the pratishthan, said.
Prakash Giri, superintendent, NMMC’s garden department, said the proposal came from the CIDCO as it is planning to widen the road. “We have put up notices and have received many objection letters. A hearing has been scheduled after which the final call will be taken,” he said.