29 palm trees axed in New Panvel 5 months ago, but work yet to begin, says activist

Time of India

04-05-2025

Panvel civic body felled 29 mature palm trees five months ago for a road widening and drainage repair project, but the work is yet to commence
NAVI MUMBAI: Five months ago, 29 mature palm trees, two decades old, were felled in New Panvel (E) by the
Panvel civic body
. The reason given was the necessity for a civic project involving road widening and drainage repair, as the trees were planted on the pavement covering the drainage channel. However, the civic body has not yet commenced the work.
A local tree activist wrote to the civic chief on April 15, alleging that the project was merely an excuse to remove the palm trees to meet the demands of some societies in the area.
These societies allegedly influenced the Tree Authority to grant the necessary permission with the support of an ex-corporator. When the trees were axed in December last year, the tree activist complained to the Panvel civic body's Tree Authority, claiming it was an unjust action that destroyed the area's greenery.
The complainant, tree activist Parshuram Vogety, stated, "I submitted the written complaint to the Panvel civic chief on April 15 after I saw that the civic project of road widening and drainage repair, for which 29 palm trees were axed five months ago, had not started. But the concerned Tree Authority has not responded to the complaint even after a fortnight."
He added, "The hacked Palm trees grew majestically to 14 metres in height over the last 25 years. There was not even a centimetre of space left for road widening. Also, when trees are planted on the footpath covering the drainage channel, there is always a possibility that when the trees grow, they will damage the drainage channel as the tree roots penetrate the ground. The Panvel civic body has planted trees on the pavements in Khanda Colony and New Panvel (E). What is the point in planting trees if they are not allowed to grow freely or are hacked for selfish reasons? Trees are hacked before and during the monsoon by societies and municipal corporation employees, by MSEDCL officials, during festive occasions such as the Ganpati festival by pandal owners, by shopkeepers who see them as a hindrance to their signboards, by builders, etc. The stretch of road on which the Palm trees exist is frequented by scooters and cars only, and has very little traffic. I have never seen flooding on this road during the monsoon. Instead of concentrating on cleanliness and other high-priority works, PMC is the first in hacking and trimming trees."
Panvel civic body's assistant municipal commissioner (Tree Authority) Swarup Kharge said, "The road widening and drainage repairing work was proposed by Panvel civic body's engineering department. The proposal mentioned the necessity to cut down 29 Palm trees creating obstacles for the project. Hence, in May, a notice was published in local Marathi newspapers for objections or suggestions, if any, within one week. As there was no response, the trees were felled. However, the felled trees will be compensated by planting the same number of trees in the vicinity for which the engineering department has demarcated an area."
An official from Panvel civic body's engineering department informed that, on March 26, the tender estimated at Rs 98.91 lakhs was invited for the drainage repairing (RCC slab) work in sector 4, New Panvel from Madhumati CHS till Krishna Arcade CHS.
As the drainage RCC slab will occupy less area, the road will get widened. After the technical and financial bidding is finalised, the drainage RCC slab work order will be issued to the contractor who bags the tender.