PIL says road concretisation fever ignoring tree cover, BMC says it strikes a balance

Mumbai: A PIL has been filed before the Bombay high court to highlight the widespread cementing of roads across the city without any thought for roadside tree cover. The BMC in a reply claimed that it had adopted a "comprehensive approach" to strike a balance between urban and environmental needs.
The PIL, filed by Zoru Bhathena, a tree activist, says the concretising appears to have been undertaken while leaving no space to plant a single new tree in the future, which it claims would certainly "cement the environmental destruction of Mumbai for years to come".
The high court division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre called for replies. The BMC submitted its reply on Feb 20, and the high court granted Bhathena two weeks to file a rejoinder.
The BMC, in a short reply revealing no data or figures, said to maintain the "fast life" of Mumbaikars, it was concretising roads to avoid potholes caused by heavy rainfall. It said it ensures minimal damage to trees while also leaving space to plant trees. The BMC claimed to follow a "comprehensive approach that balances urban development needs with environmental preservation".
The civic affidavit by Santosh Patil, executive engineer (roads), western suburbs, zone III, said the BMC was opposing the grant of any relief in the PIL. The BMC denied every averment and allegation made in the PIL. The BMC affidavit on oath said the "PIL involves disputed questions of facts" lacks due diligence and on this ground alone "deserves to be dismissed".
The city is a heavy rainfall receiving area, and therefore potholes have become a trouble for citizens, said the civic affidavit, adding that as a result the "daily rush, hustle and bustle" of Mumbaikars was affected by potholes on asphalt roads in the city during the monsoon.
To improve the life of its denizens, the BMC said it invited "mega tenders" for road improvement in two phases to concretise roads and intends to complete phase 1 by Feb next year and phase 2 by May 2027.
Trees are retained and protected with raised tree guards where possible by diverting the alignment of stormwater drains and utility ducts, said the BMC, and where unavoidable, trees are transplanted, conteneded the civic body.
The HC said it will hear the matter next on April 1.
Mumbai: A PIL has been filed before the Bombay high court to highlight the widespread cementing of roads across the city without any thought for roadside tree cover. The BMC in a reply claimed that it had adopted a "comprehensive approach" to strike a balance between urban and environmental needs.
The PIL, filed by Zoru Bhathena, a tree activist, says the concretising appears to have been undertaken while leaving no space to plant a single new tree in the future, which it claims would certainly "cement the environmental destruction of Mumbai for years to come".
The high court division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre called for replies. The BMC submitted its reply on Feb 20, and the high court granted Bhathena two weeks to file a rejoinder.
The BMC, in a short reply revealing no data or figures, said to maintain the "fast life" of Mumbaikars, it was concretising roads to avoid potholes caused by heavy rainfall. It said it ensures minimal damage to trees while also leaving space to plant trees. The BMC claimed to follow a "comprehensive approach that balances urban development needs with environmental preservation".
The civic affidavit by Santosh Patil, executive engineer (roads), western suburbs, zone III, said the BMC was opposing the grant of any relief in the PIL. The BMC denied every averment and allegation made in the PIL. The BMC affidavit on oath said the "PIL involves disputed questions of facts" lacks due diligence and on this ground alone "deserves to be dismissed".
The city is a heavy rainfall receiving area, and therefore potholes have become a trouble for citizens, said the civic affidavit, adding that as a result the "daily rush, hustle and bustle" of Mumbaikars was affected by potholes on asphalt roads in the city during the monsoon.
To improve the life of its denizens, the BMC said it invited "mega tenders" for road improvement in two phases to concretise roads and intends to complete phase 1 by Feb next year and phase 2 by May 2027.
Trees are retained and protected with raised tree guards where possible by diverting the alignment of stormwater drains and utility ducts, said the BMC, and where unavoidable, trees are transplanted, conteneded the civic body.
The HC said it will hear the matter next on April 1.