Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has issued a notice to the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) to remove concrete from the bases of 50 trees near the airport. The civic body has also warned the airport authority of strict action if the concrete is not removed from the tree bases.
On Monday, The Free Press Journal highlighted that the road concretisation work carried out near Mumbai Airport has choked 50 trees on Sahar Road leading to Sahar cargo terminal and Sahar police station. Civic activists from Watchdog Foundation had written to the principal secretary of Maharashtra’s environment department and demanded to save the trees along with taking action against airport officials.
Taking cognisance of the matter, officials from BMC’s K/East ward carried out an inspection on the site and issued notice to the incharge official of MIAL for leaving the trees suffocated due to excessive concretisation around their bases. The notice directed MIAL to remove the concrete and leave one-metre radius around the base while adding red soil in the bases to ensure the protection of trees.
“It has been observed that while carrying out the road works, the tree bases have also been concretised. There is a chance that these trees on the said road might die in the future. Therefore it is directed through this letter that the concrete around the trees should be immediately removed,” read the notice issued by BMC.
The BMC warned MIAL that if it fails to comply to the directions, the civic body will take legal actions against the airport authority under the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975.
The notice also claimed that a civic official have spoken to a representative from MIAL through a telephonic conversation and has directed them to allow ample space for the trees. MIAL has been asked to produce a report with photographic evidence of the work undertaken by the airport authority.
The Free Press Journal contacted Mumbai Airport but did not receive any reply until the news went for press.
