After a public uproar and intervention by local legislator and transport minister- Pratap Sarnaik, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) is now contemplating to rollback its plan of cutting down nearly 1,208 trees at the Gyan Jyoti Savitribai Phule Udyan- a garden having a sprawling urban forest in the Kanakia area of Mira Road for the expansion of the sewage treatment plant (STP).

However, no official order had been issued by the civic administration, so far. The MBMC had developed an urban forest in the garden under the state government's Amrut Project by planting saplings in 2017 which have now turned into full grown trees. However, the MBMC published a notification inviting objections and suggestions to axe the trees in November-2024.

As usual, the scores of objections registered by local residents, environmentalists and nature lovers against the axing proposal were turned down citing infrastructural development needs. The MBMC which recently moved ahead to execute the axing of trees, met with stiff opposition from hundreds of residents living in around 30 housing societies located around the garden.

The irate residents staged a peaceful agitation to register the anti-environment move, prompting Sarnaik to intervene in the matter. Sarnaik visited the garden on Tuesday and directed municipal officials to find an alternative site for the STP. When contacted a senior officer requesting anonymity said, “As of now the plan to axe the trees is put on hold. However, a final decision is yet to be taken.”

 “The urban forest is blooming and creating a very positive impact on micro climate, creating change in temperature, oxygen levels and increasing biodiversity. Such a move to chop the green lungs is unfortunate, we hope that sense prevails and any kind of developmental projects which pose a threat to the environment are avoided in the larger interests of citizens.” said social activist-Adv. Krishna Gupta.