Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), which has frequently been criticised by nature lovers and activists for neglecting trees and letting them die, has finally started taking action.
Officials from the Garden and Tree Authority Department said they have started planting new trees at locations where trees have died, especially near shops and commercial outlets.
As per the data, over 100 rain trees have died in the last one-and-a-half years.
Tushar Pawar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Solid Waste Management and Tree Authority, said the department had received complaints from nature lovers that shop owners had intentionally destroyed trees as the branches covered their premises. “Following the complaints, we even roped in experts from the Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth in Dapoli, who said the trees were affected by mealybugs, and there was no foul play. We have started planting new trees,” Mr. Pawar said.
The NMMC has identified 30 locations across the eight nodes, and is planting only native trees. Mr. Pawar said, “We plan to plant 30 trees, most of them in Vashi and Koperkharane. The trees are almost two years old and we have specifically selected ones that will grow fast.”
Activist Arati Chauhan said the development is a victory for nature lovers. “After years of following up by activists, the NMMC has finally taken steps.”
