Let’s not kill ourselves in our focus on progress

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As Mumbai gasps for breath in its deteriorating air quality, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has issued a notice calling for the removal of 3,267 trees from a plot reserved for a garden at Ramdev Park. This is the sole green patch in Mira Road East, and now an Olympic-size swimming pool is planned at the spot.

Just last year, the MBMC organised a plantation drive in the park, with over 10,000 trees being planted in the presence of the MBMC chief, deputy commissioner and mayor.

Concerningly, the notice mentions that the trees will be replanted, but important details such as the location of the replantation, the survey number of the plot, who will bear the cost, and the survival chances of the relocated trees are not specified.

A report in this paper cited explanations by officials and they also said this is at an extremely initial, nascent stage. One can understand that there is a push to promote sport and for that, we need infra at grassroots level. Yet, we also have to ask is it necessary to zero in on green spots to create infra? Doesn't the former contribute to health too? Do not green spaces aid in post training recovery? Our local athletes, too, benefit from these spaces for warm ups or cool downs.

It is also ridiculous that mammoth tree plantation ceremonies with applause and back slapping are done by local leaders and authorities, after which these very trees are cut down for some or the other project. We must have an alternative site for this pool, one that will not entail cutting off trees. Why cut off our lifelines in these days when air quality is affecting every aspect of life? It is a question to which all these planners and decision makers do not have an answer.