Mumbai: The sacrifice of greenery for development, so far mostly out of sight or a distant future prospect, reached south Mumbai, with the cutting down of decades-old trees in the Churchgate area. The carnage brought citizens out in protest.
The Hindu spoke to Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, about the environmental impact of the ₹23,136 crore Metro 3 project, the status of the work, and the criticism it has received. Edited excerpts from the interview:
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Mumbai had a robust transportation system but now it is overburdened. New areas have opened up where there is no suburban rail connectivity. Every year, our vehicle population is increasing by 10%; increase at that rate will not benefit Mumbai or solve its transportation problem. We need to have another transport mode.
The Metro line 3 will carry 17 lakh passengers per day. It has the capacity to take 6.5 lakh vehicles off the road. It is an environment-friendly project which will improve the health of the city. There is a damage to the environment, but it is temporary. But if you do not do the Metro, there will be permanent damage. Has there been any other way to do this project without even causing this much environmental damage, we would have been very happy.
Imagine how much richer environmentally the city would be in five years when nearly 200 kilometres of metro lines are operational. By that time, these issues will be left behind.
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On why trees must be cut down
The stations and underground tunnels are 22 to 25 metres down. To get tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) to that level, we need to sink TBM shafts — this project has 10 — and at these locations, trees need to be cleared.
Every one kilometre, there will be a station. Although the stations are underground, work cannot start without opening the ground. The station ‘box’ is 280 metres long and 27 metres wide. You cannot have stations below buildings; they must be below roads. Most roads in Mumbai have trees on both the sides. When you build a station box 25 metres down, you cannot do it without first securing the borders of that box.
On public anger at the felling of fully-grown trees
Those who have that kind of anger must understand this.
Tree-cutting was absolutely essential. It is non-negotiable. Why would anybody do some activity not required for the project? There is no way we can not cut trees and still have an underground Metro. Whatever we could save we have already saved. Whatever due diligence was required we have already done. The Tree Authority has done a very good job, approving cutting only after thorough scrutiny. They are also vetted by the courts. Public discourse and dialogue is very useful to improve upon things.
Secondly, government agencies do not work in vacuum. Government has its own system of checks and balances. We are a government organisation which has been set up legally. This project has been approved by the central and state cabinets. Cutting of trees is not an arbitrary decision: it has been taken following due process.
Thirdly, tree-felling is not illegal. The Protection of Trees Act permits felling of trees if it is required. Once the necessity is established, permission is given through due process.
As per the original survey, around 4000 trees were to be impacted. We improved our design, and almost 1200 trees were saved. Of the remaining 2800, the Tree Authority guides us to cut 1070 trees. The rest will be transplanted. Most will be in land allotted in Aarey Colony; we have also got small land parcels at Wadala and near the airport. As part of impact mitigation measures, we will be planting three times more trees. We will start growing them right now. Once the project is complete, the grown trees will be replanted at the original locations. We will maintain them for three years. In a way, we are temporarily removing tree cover and we are bringing it back.
In Mumbai there are above 26 lakh trees as per the 2012 tree census. In 2008, there were about 21 lakh. Every year 2000 to 3000 trees are felled for various reasons. Despite that, the green cover is increasing.
Every year, close to 4000 people die on the suburban railway network. If people are concerned about cutting of trees, they should also have concern about loss of life. Somewhere we have to balance this.
On accusations from activists that 95% of transplanted trees do not survive
On what basis are people making these statements? Nobody has ever given any data. For the Delhi Metro, 83% of their planted and transplanted trees have survived. That is the official record. The assumption that transplanted trees would not survive has no basis.
On allegations that the car-shed land will be exploited commercially
The car deport abuts the Jogeshwari–Vikhroli Link Road. It does not have any commercial space. Now the noise being generated is about a 3.5-hectare area next to the car shed which we are using as a casting yard. For the past 15 years, this land was used as a place for an RMC plant. Some people, who were of the opinion that it was a forest, went to the National Green Tribunal and alleged that we had altered the land use and converted it into casting yard. We produced old Google maps of the past 10 years. NGT asked the appellants whether they want the land to be restored to an RMC plant.
The car depot is not a real estate project. There are only tracks, a few maintenance sheds, and one small administrative building for operations control. It is not some big commercial activity; it is essential activity.
On whether the criticism Metro 3 has received is unfair
If you see things in isolation, and print every photo of cut trees, you will think that the whole world is falling down. If you see it in perspective, you will realise that yes, there is damage, but that damage is under control and can be easily mitigated.
People should have a larger perspective. You see the trees from outside your window, because that is your world. The government does not have that luxury: it has to have a bird’s-eye-view to see how the city is going to meet challenges 15 years down the line.
I think there is an unnecessary trust deficit from citizens. We are working to construct a project required for the sustainable development of the city. We are committed to do it. Mumbaikars are poised to get a very comfortable, modern, sleek transport system that will mitigate their travel hassles. We have been working on this project since 2011, and we have set down operating practices. We are doing everything by the book, as per laid-down procedures; not a single aspect is neglected.
If citizens have any query they can always come to us. We are always open for suggestions. But dialogue should be always with a view to improving the situation. Citizens should put forward whatever grievances they may have, but remember that agencies work under a policy framework. Rather than criticising, people should come forward to help us in the mitigation measures.
I want people to bear with us. To trust that whatever is being done by us is required for the project. Nothing less, nothing more.