MMRCL replacing 1000+ lost trees in Mumbai's Aarey


The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRCL), responsible for executing the Metro-3 underground corridor, has announced its decision to engage in in-situ compensatory planting of 1,137 trees to replace those that failed to survive transplantation or compensatory planting in Aarey Colony.

It has been reported that MMRCL removed 2,800 trees from station sites and 2,141 from the depot construction site in the course of work on line-3.

An official from MMRCL stated that until February 2024, a total of 1,643 trees were transplanted from the station, and allied activities were conducted at various locations within the BMC's jurisdiction, including Aarey Colony. Furthermore, as part of compensatory plantation efforts to counteract the loss of green cover during Metro-3 work, 23,523 new trees have been planted in areas under the BMC, including Aarey and Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).

"The 1,137 trees will be planted at sites in Aarey Colony where the originally planted trees did not survive. Increasing the green cover in this area will contribute to maintaining the ecological balance," added the official.

MMRCL asserts that upon completion, tree plantation initiatives alone are projected to aid in carbon sequestration, removing approximately 5,500 tonnes of CO2 and producing 12,400 tonnes of O2 annually. Additionally, the anticipated reduction in vehicle usage resulting from line-3 is estimated to decrease carbon emissions by 9.9 million kg.

In addition to Aarey and SGNP, MMRCL, in collaboration with the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra, has conducted a plantation drive utilising the Miyawaki method under its compensatory plantation scheme in Goregaon West. As part of this initiative, 9000 plants of various indigenous species, such as kath, neem, amla, bakul, Sita, Ashoka, tamarind, Arjun, desi Badam, Kanchan, bel, supari, mango, coconut, and Sisoo, have been planted on 3000 sqm of land. MMRCL has also carried out tree plantation drives at MMRDA's R&R colonies in Lallubhai Compound and Natwar Parekh site in Mankhurd.

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