Four Lakh Trees To Be Cut In Thane

In order to meet the present requirements of drinking water, the Gargai Dam will be built in Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary in Thane. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be cutting over four lakh trees i.e. equal to all the trees in Aarey; which is spread across 720 hectares of forest land. 

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Talking about the same, a Forest Department official stated that the BMC appointed the consultant- Naik Environment Research Institute Limited to study the site. In its survey of the site, the consultant suggested that Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary will face an estimated loss of four to five lakh indigenous trees. Moreover, 280 tribal families who live in nearby villages will be rehabilitated. However, the project yet has to get an Environment Clearance (EC). Currently, Mumbai's water supply comes from seven reservoirs i.e. Modak Sagar, Tansa, Vihar, Tulsi, Upper Vaitarna, Bhatsa and Middle Vaitarna.

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Talking about the same, Aarey activist Zoru Bathena stated that in one single day in July 2019, the BMC pumped out 14,000 million litres of precious rainwater into the sea. That's more than the combined capacity of Tulsi and Vihar lakes. Now, it wants to destroy trees outside Mumbai to get drinking water. He further concluded by saying that this project is just another ecological disaster. 

Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra and accommodates a wide range of rare species, both flora and fauna. The wildlife sanctuary is spread across Shahpur, Wada, Mokhada and other talukas that come under the district of Thane.

Earlier this month, the BMC had stated that it will cut 140 trees at Bhulabhai Desai road for the construction of Coastal Road.  In addition to this 140, 500 trees will be cut between Worli and Marine Drive for this project.

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