Mumbai tree felling proposals affecting more than 200 trees will be considered by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Tree Authority on October 21, covering Slum Rehabilitation Authority redevelopment schemes, a proposed hospital and construction work linked to the Coastal Road North project.
The proposals on the meeting agenda include the removal of 41 trees for an SRA project in Sewri, 76 trees for an SRA redevelopment scheme in Worli, 43 trees for a proposed hospital in Kandivali West, 22 trees for a combined SRA redevelopment project in Andheri East and Jogeshwari East, and three trees for the Mumbai Coastal Road Project North in Goregaon West.
The inclusion of the proposals on the agenda does not mean permission has been granted. The Tree Authority will consider them under Section 8(2) of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975.
In Sewri, Sahana Builders and Developers Pvt Ltd has sought permission to cut 41 trees and replant 30 to enable excavation for the plinth and basement of buildings under an SRA scheme involving Ganesh Bagh SRA Cooperative Housing Society and nine other societies. A site inspection recorded 74 trees, including 71 identified as being affected by the proposed excavation.
In Worli, Skylark Buildcon Pvt Ltd has sought permission to remove 76 trees and replant 23 for an SRA redevelopment scheme involving Shri Sai Sundar Nagar SRA Cooperative Housing Society and 24 other societies. The proposed work includes building and excavation activity, podiums, ramps, a proposed drain and associated road infrastructure.
The Kandivali West proposal, submitted by Akar Architects and Consultants, seeks permission to cut 43 trees and replant 54 for a hospital building. The civic inspection found 411 trees on the plot. Of these, 97 were identified as affected by construction, while the remaining 314 are proposed to be retained.
Another proposal concerns a combined SRA redevelopment scheme involving Jai Hanuman and Tejomay societies in Andheri East and Vighnaharta SRA Cooperative Housing Society in Jogeshwari East. Developer L K Housing LLP has sought permission to cut 22 trees and replant eight. The civic inspection recorded 148 trees on the site, with some covered under earlier permissions. Of the 106 trees identified as relevant to the revised plan under earlier approvals, 99 are proposed to be affected.
For the Coastal Road Project North, the BMC bridges department has sought permission to cut three trees near Mindspace Garden on MDP Road in Goregaon West and replant 37. The trees are identified as being affected by the alignment of a temporary access bridge needed for construction of the planned Coastal Road interchange bridge. According to the proposal, all three trees are dead.
The Tree Authority’s October 21 meeting will determine whether the requested permissions are granted under the applicable tree-protection law. Until then, the proposals remain requests awaiting consideration.
