Indian Express 16.12.2009
To save green cover, civic body hikes security deposit for trees
With builders and authorities recklessly hacking trees and failing to transplant the uprooted ones, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has increased the security deposit to Rs 10,000 per tree.
The money would be forfeited if the person or organisation fails to transplant the tree, resulting in its death. At present, the deposit money is Rs 6,000.
The BMC has also increased the cost of the application form from Rs 4,500 to Rs 6,000, security deposit for cutting tree from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 for private organisations and from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 for government and semi government offices. The proposal to increase the amount was approved in November.
Officials said most of the times builders cut even those trees which were to be transplanted. “The deposit amount was too small. By increasing the amount, we hope they will transplant the trees,” said deputy municipal commissioner (gardens and zoo) Chandrashekhar Rokde.
Tree authority member Dr Nilesh Baxi said while the amount will swell the BMC’s kitty there was a chance that authorities may pay attention to transplantation. “Many times the builders or authorities would not come to take back the security amount after getting the permission to cut the tree. The high amount will at least act as a deterrent for small and medium scale developers,” he said.
Recently, the civic body at Dadar Swimming Pool transplanted 30 trees of which seven died due to improper care.
According to the Tree Act, for every one tree that is cut, two new trees should be planted and there should be two trees in 100 sq meter area and five trees in 100 sq meter area.
The BMC will also appoint agencies with experts on horticulture and trained labourers having knowledge about tree transplantation. Officials said if the trees are transplanted scientifically they do survive, however, the trees are hacked and transplanted by labourers who have no knowledge about it. “The builders and authorities will have to carry the tree transplantation through these agencies and will be responsible for them for two years,” he said.
A monitoring committee at ward level will also keep a tab on the growth and progress of these trees, Dr Baxi said.
Meanwhile, the BMC has decided to get trees from Andhra Pradesh. Jackfruit, bakul, breadfruit, neem, bamboos and four varieties of palms are among the 7,000-odd trees the city will soon acquire from Rajahmundry city in Andhra Pradesh, the BMC said.
