Navi Mumbai: Belapur Kille Gaothan area losing trees to encroachers, complain activists

NAVI MUMBAI: Nature lovers in Belapur Kille Gaothan, Sector 15A, close to Cidco guest house, are highly disturbed by the latest cutting of 10 big trees along the hill slope.
While green activists have complained to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation about the trees destruction, the citizens said that several more trees have been marked with numbers on them, so they want to know which authority has done so and if more trees will be killed in this verdant, green zone.
Green groups are up in arms against what they called illegal tree cutting at Kille Gaothan road. from behind the NRI Police station.
While Cidco said the area has been handed over to Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) long ago, the civic body officials said they are unaware of the development.
Belapur Ward officer Dr Mitali Sancheti ordered for an inquiry after NatConnect Foundation drew her attention to the environment violation. “I have asked the garden department to check,” she said.
“This looks like a big farce,” bird lover Paramdeep Grewal said. The trees are mysteriously numbered. They are not just cut but uprooted with JCB machines, she alleged. “When I asked a civic official, he told me that I should have stopped it,” Grewal said, wondering how a common citizen would stop JCB machines.
A plot in the area has GST Commissionerate’s sign, NatConnect director B N Kumar said. NMMC officials are not aware as to who painted the numbers on the trees, he said and pointed out that the fact that the NMMC ward officer is also not aware of the violation raises several questions.
He requested the newly appointed Municipal Commissioner to take a stringent action against the environment violation, restoration of the trees cut and constant vigil to prevent further loss.
The entire area is a lush green stretch and home to several exotic birds and biodiversity. Several birds have lost their nests due to this cruel act, Kumar said.
Meanwhile, she asked her team to be on alert and posted guards in the area.
Advocate Pradeep Patole said, “We have been pointing out to both Cidco and NMMC about attempts of land grab in the green zone”. The concerned officials ought to be alert and prevent violations.
“It is really shocking that we are witnessing this kind of irresponsible tree felling at a time when we need increased greenery in our area,” said Vishnu Joshi of Parsik Greens.