Parsik Hill Tree Plantation Withers as NMMC Faces Water Supply Delays
A tree plantation drive initiated by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) in collaboration with the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat India (AKAH) on Parsik Hill has failed, with most saplings reportedly drying up due to a lack of water supply. The drive, conducted on December 24 under the Majhi Vasundhara scheme, aimed to address soil erosion and landslides through a three-tier plantation system comprising vetiver grass, shrubs, and drumstick trees.
While 50 saplings were ceremonially planted during the campaign, local activists have observed that all but three or four drumstick trees have dried up. Sudhir Dani, founder of the Sajag Nagarik Manch, attributed this failure to NMMC’s delay in providing water supply to the site. “The Municipal Corporation had assured water supply arrangements, but their six-month delay in granting the necessary connection has resulted in the drying of all the plants,” he stated. Anil Pawar, a nature enthusiast who brought the issue to the attention of Sajag Nagarik Manch, noted that water tanks had been installed at the site, but they remained unused due to the lack of a proper connection. Kapil Kulkarni, another member of the Manch, emphasized the need for transparency in NMMC’s greening initiatives.
The group has demanded a white paper detailing the number of trees planted in Navi Mumbai over the past three years, the associated expenditure, and the survival rate of these plantations. Meanwhile, a representative from AKAH reported that the pipeline for water supply has finally been laid, and a renewed plantation drive will commence soon. “From next Monday, the proper plantation drive will be conducted, ensuring adequate water supply to the saplings,” the representative stated. With thousands of pits already dug for future plantations, activists hope that NMMC will ensure sufficient water supply to prevent a repeat of this failure. The situation has raised broader concerns about the effectiveness of tree plantation drives and the need for better planning and execution in addressing environmental challenges.
