The inspection report submitted before the two-judge committee on Metro 3, which was appointed by the Bombay High Court, said 30-35% of the transplanted trees are nearly dead, and that there are still 839 trees to be transplanted.
The report prepared by a junior committee consisting of two officers of the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority, pointed out that 2,439 trees should have been planted till date, but not even a few hundred trees have been planted.
The petitioners have contended that the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) is taking proper care to prevent unnecessary hacking of trees, but the authorities are not taking enough care to transplant them as only 65-70% trees have shown sprouting of leaves.
Justice Shantanu Kemkar and Justice B.R. Gavai directed the MMRCL to give a detailed plan on where they propose to plant/transplant trees.
The judges also asked the petitioners to give details of other spaces where trees could be planted.
The judges directed the junior committee to revisit two sample stations to investigate the grievances.
They also told the committee to consider planting trees on the High Court premises and the Marine Drive.
They asked the authorities to consider whether the Gujarat/Singapore/Hong Kong transplantation models could be replicated.
