Of 2,096, GMRC axe to spare baobab tree

SURAT: In what can aptly be summed as missing the woods for the tree, a lone African species in Adajan is the only tree that has been marked as 'saved' out of 2,093 trees identified to be axed or transplanted for falling in the way of development.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study carried out by RITES Limited in 2020 for Surat Metro Rail Project by Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) Limited identified around 2,093 trees on both the routes that literally 'blocked' the development track. The African baobab tree fell in the metro route on L P Savani Road in Adajan.
Of these, 1081 are on Bhesan Saroli route, while 1,012 are on Sarthana DREAM city route. For the trees deemed ordinary, the procedure to transplant or cut have been mentioned in EIA report, but it clearly mentioned saving the African boabab and has dedicated an entire page on its details and photos.
While Nature Club Surat (NCS) office bearers are creating awareness to protect the one baobab tree, majority of the trees on the routes are already damaged or awaiting removal. It has also announced raising concerns about the baobab tree by meeting top government officials.
"Baobab is a heritage tree and it has been saved by people in past too," explained Snehal Patel, president of NCS, when asked why the over 2,000 other tree species did not merit the same concern.
In another study report of December 2020, Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for Surat Metro Rail Project, GMRC claimed to have consulted various stakeholders before starting the project, including Nature Club Surat (NCS) as well.
"I was not aware of that metro officials did a study and met NCS. I enquired in my office and it was confirmed that some people came and took feedback. We objected then about damage to Gandhi Baug and other tree but we had no information about the baobab being in the route," Patel said.
Darshan Desai, volunteer Prayas Team Environment told TOI: "The project was planned few years ago, and the right time to add value and raise concern to save the trees was then, not today. EIA already mentions that baobab is the only tree that is to be saved. Any protest today will be ignoring the fact that already hundreds of trees have been removed!"