Metro, bullet train to hit 1,500 trees in Thane

THANE: The upcoming bullet train and Metro-IV railway projects are likely to collectively affect nearly 1,500 trees from various parts of the city, including Thane and Diva, informed officials.
A notice published on the Thane Municipal Corporation website mentions that 1,217 trees are proposed to be transplanted, another 177 are to be cut for the bullet train station link and other related developments, while nearly 46 trees have to be transplanted and four trees cut and an equal number to be trimmed as they are coming in the way of constructing three stations on the Eastern Express Highway for the Metro IV line.
Meanwhile, activists following conservation of green cover in the lake city said this is probably the first time that the bullet train project has sought permission for relocation of trees, and feared the number of trees being displaced could be much higher by the time the project was complete.
“The municipal administration is in the process of publishing notices to transplant, cut and trim these trees in Diva villages for the construction of bullet train station, and in Thane for construction of metro stations along the Eastern Express Highway. We will invite objections and suggestions from residents following which the same will be put up before the tree authority,” said a civic official.
Meanwhile, activists fear the developments and subsequent requests for tree relocation in instalments could slowly deplete the existing lush green cover of the city. A majority claimed transplantation also isn’t done scientifically, leading to the trees dying a slow death.
“Already a few thousand trees have been affected by the three metro projects in the city. We are not opposed to development, but relocation of trees has to be done in a scientific manner,” said activist Rohit Joshi.