Environmentalists and residents have lauded the civic authorities for accelerating work to divert sewage from entering Powai Lake, but raised serious concerns over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) plan to transplant 112 trees for the construction of a sewage treatment plant (STP).
According to NGO Natconnect Foundation, the clean-up drive aimed at halting the daily discharge of 18 million litres of untreated sewage from 18 inlets into the 210-hectare wetland has gathered pace.
However, the proposed transplantation of trees from the STP site near Suvarna Mandir in Powai has sparked fresh debate over the ecological cost of restoration. While appreciating the BMC’s response to sustained citizen pressure, Pamela Cheema, chairperson of the BMC-mandated ALM, urged the civic body to examine alternative alignments to minimise tree loss. “With AQI levels deteriorating, protecting mature trees is critical. Transplantation must be the last resort,” she said.
The STP site reportedly has 212 trees, of which 122 are proposed for transplantation. Environment watchdog NatConnect Foundation echoed the concerns, cautioning that the survival rate of transplanted trees in Mumbai is often below 40 per cent.
