Citizens protest BMC's proposed move to cut trees

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Mumbai, May 26 (UNI) A group of citizens today organised a silent protest at Azad Maidan against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations proposed move to cut trees around the historic Gateway of India for carrying out beautification work in the area.

''At a time when the whole world is worried about the impending dangers of the global warming, we are recklessly uprooting trees in the name of beautification. We will go all out to protect trees, which are so essentail for the mankind's survival,'' Remu Jhaveri, Chairman of the Colaba Tourist Welfare Association said.

Carrying placards, which read slogans like ''No Trees No Tomorrow'', ''Cutting Trees is Destruction and not Beautification'', and ''Cutting Trees is Gateway to Destruction'', the handful protestors also carried a mock pyre of a dead tree. ''This pyre implies that if you cut trees, they will be dead,'' Jhaveri said.

''Unmindful cutting of trees in the name of beutification is not justified. We should not forget that for a healthy life, we need green cover, which we can't have unless we plant more and more trees. It is ironical that the authorities instead of going for more planation, are wiping them out,'' lamented Naz Jhaveri, one of the protestors from Colaba.

''I can't see a tree but I can feel it. If today we are facing a rising temperature it is only because we are not bothered about green cover. Less number of trees also causes pollution, besides making the world warmer and warmer,'' said visually-impaired Jagjeet Singh, who also took part in the silent march.

The protestors also said that if the authorities did not pay heed to their demand of taking back their decision to cut trees around the Gateway, they will resort to Chipko-type movement to protect the environment.

UNI

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