The Times of India                26.09.2013

Civic body to landscape area around upcoming HQ

CBD BELAPUR: Three days after TOI highlighted the hacking of more than 20 full-grown trees along the Palm Beach Road just outside the upcoming swanky headquarters of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), executive engineer Sanjay Desai clarified that the entire area will be landscaped by experts.

"Just like the area around Vidhan Sabha or Rashtrapati Bhavan is beautified with special ornamental trees, the NMMC, too, plans to do something similar. The existing trees will be replanted elsewhere. A detailed plan for landscaping the area has been prepared by architect Hiten Sethi. This will give an aesthetic look to the upcoming headquarters," he said. City engineer Mohan Dagaonkar remained unavailable for comment.

Nearly 20 trees along Palm Beach Road in Belapur, just outside the headquarters, were hacked last weekend. Belapur resident Roma Shetty said, "I really hope they keep their word. The city is turning into yet another concrete jungle and the civic authorities are doing little to save its tree cover."