Worli Sea Face palm trees dying

Updated on: 01 May,2011 07:28 AM IST |
Rinkita Gurav |

The palm trees planted on Worli Sea Face promenade are drying up and need attention.

The palm trees planted on Worli sea face promenade are drying up and need attention. Shiv Sena corporator of Khar Danda and Chairman of Gardens and Markets committee Vilas Chavri sent a letter to the Tree Authority of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation raising an alarm, and requesting immediate action. MiDDAY had earlier reported on February 2. 2011 that the trees on Bandra Reclamation have dried after they were transplanted in December 2010 (Trees bear the brunt of walkway revamp).

Pic/ Shadab Khan

"The trees planted at Worli sea face have dried up. Perhaps they are not being watered," said Chavri, adding that improper transplantation could be another reason for their withering. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is responsible for transplantation of the trees. A BMC's Garden Department official said on condition of anonymity, "The MSRDC plans to plant 100 trees on the Worli sea face and name the stretch silver beach."

However, the city's environmentalists believe that transplanting trees is a bad idea since their survival rate in the past has not been encouraging. In 2008, several palm trees were planted at Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airportu00a0-- most perished within a year. Of the 22 trees planted at the Hajji Ali sea front, 16 have perished.

Dr Nilesh Baxi, environmentalist and member of the Tree Authority said, "Silver palm trees cannot be watered like other trees, as they require top shower. The BMC does not have the technology to manage that. The weather is affecting these trees and they look burnt out in mid May, since the sunlight is harsh."

Suhas Karvande, deputy municipal commissioner, Garden Department said, "I will send a team to inspect the condition of the trees and take action against the authorities if they fail to look after them."