PMC undertakes tree plantation for riverfront development project

A total of 69,000 local species would be planted under RFD as per the plan, it said adding that in stretch 9, a total of 1,534 trees and in stretch 10-11, nearly 1,253 trees of foreign species will be removed and local species trees would be planted. The trees that are being planted are of 10 feet to 15 feet tall, it said. The river front project includes the development of a 44-km stretch, which includes 22.2 km of the Mula river, 10.4 km of the Mutha river and 11.8 km of the Mula-Mutha river. The project is divided into multiple stretches for implementation, and work has begun on two stretches.

The project has been designed along the lines of the Sabarmati river front development in Gujarat and its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March last year. However, it was challenged in court, delaying the implementation.

According to the civic body’s proposal, a total of 7,539 trees will be affected as 3,110 of them would be removed and 4,329 would be transplanted. The PMC will be planting 69,000 new trees to compensate for the cutting of trees.

The plant to cut trees led to protests from residents, who organised a Chipko Andolan with a march from the Sambhaji Garden gate to the Garware bridge through the riverside road under the banner of ‘Save Mula-Mutha’, demanding that the river be cleaned first.

Earlier, 11 environmental experts returned the PMC’s Paryavaran Doot environment ambassadors award, saying that they felt cheated by the administration, which had caused massive destruction of natural greenery while implementing the riverfront project and a proposed road on Vetal Tekdi.