BMC’s Plan to Cut 700 Trees for Mulund-Goregaon Tunnel Sparks Environmental Outcry

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced plans to clear approximately 700 trees at Film City, Goregaon, to facilitate the construction of a casting yard and a tunnel connecting Mulund and Goregaon. This move has raised significant environmental concerns, particularly regarding the disruption of wildlife habitats.

The designated 22-acre site at Film City is adjacent to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), which is home to diverse wildlife, including leopards, deer, and peacocks. These animals are known to wander into the Film City area, raising alarms about the ecological impact of the proposed tree removal.

Assistant engineer Ashok Mali, overseeing the project, stated, “We want to launch the shaft from there and have requested land from Film City. We plan to remove 700 trees, and the final decision will rest with the tree authority. The trees will either be transplanted or removed.”

Swati Mhase-Patil, managing director of Film City, confirmed that while BMC has requested land, no final decision has been made yet.

Environmental activist D. Stalin from the NGO Vanshakti has voiced strong opposition to the tree removal. In a letter addressed to the BMC and the state forest department, he expressed concern over the rampant issuance of permissions to cut trees in Mumbai. He argued that the city is already grappling with severe heat and pollution and criticized the lack of compensatory afforestation efforts.

Stalin highlighted that the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) has failed to uphold commitments to restore tree cover lost during previous projects, particularly in Aarey. He noted that Film City lies within the eco-sensitive zone of SGNP, pointing out that it has allegedly occupied over 51 acres of forest land illegally.

Previously, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) proposed a link road through SGNP, which ultimately led to the decision to construct a 6.3-kilometer tunnel connecting Film City and Khindipada in Bhandup. The project aims to significantly reduce travel time between Mulund and Goregaon from over an hour to just 20 minutes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project on July 13, 2024, with a completion deadline set for October 2028.

As the BMC moves forward with its plans, the ecological implications of cutting down trees in such a sensitive area remain a pressing concern for environmentalists and local residents alike.