Thane: Environment activist Rohit Joshi has flagged alleged lapses in Thane Municipal Corporation Tree Authority’s notice seeking public objections to the displacement of 339 trees for the MMRDA’s Kasarvadavali–Kharbao creek bridge project.According to Joshi, the notice proposes cutting 242 trees and transplanting 97. However, the project developer’s Form C application and GPS-based inventory reportedly list all 339 trees for cutting.Joshi also questioned the identification of nine trees marked “unidentified” and raised concerns over the proposed removal of around 70 ecologically important trees without an assessment of their ecological significance.“There is no tree authority formed in Thane till now and no public representative on the panel. We have sought an independent assessment of the trees likely to be displaced including detailed disclosure of transplantation and plantation sites, else we would approach the high court,” Joshi said.A response from the civic administration was awaited.
