Activists have accused Mumbai International Airport Limited of choking 50 trees by concretising its base near Mumbai Airport. The activists have written to Maharashtra’s environment department and demanded to save the trees along with taking action against airport officials.
On Monday, activists from the Watchdog Foundation wrote to the principal secretary of the state environment department along with the chief minister, alleging that trees near the airport were left for suffocation due to excessive concretisation around tree bases. The complaint accused MIAL of concretising the bases of 50 trees situated at Sahar Village Road leading to Sahar Police Station and Sahar Cargo Complex.
The concretised road |
The complaint alleged that the trees are being suffocated by concrete laid tightly around their roots, preventing proper water percolation and air circulation, which violates environmental guidelines and Supreme Court directives. It added that this practice not only weakens trees, making them prone to falling during monsoon, but also violates the Indian Road Congress norms and the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975.
The activists have urged the environment department to conduct an immediate survey of all trees in the area and identify violations done by MIAL and issue directions to remove bitumen from around tree bases. It also demanded actions against responsible contractors and officials who have permitted the concretisation against environmental norms.
Godfrey Pimenta, trustee of Watchdog Foundation, said, “As per established guidelines, a minimum of one-meter radius around the base of a tree must be left open for water absorption and root aeration. However, in multiple locations, this norm has been blatantly ignored by MIAL, leading to environmental degradation and the gradual deterioration of the city’s green cover.”
The Free Press Journal contacted Mumbai Airport but did not receive any reply until the news went for press.
