Navi Mumbai: Nerul residents and nature lovers had an innovative Diwali protest in order to protect the trees at Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Udyan civic garden in sector 8 by peacefully lighting traditional lamps next to the trees. The NMMC has proposed a plan to construct underground parking at this site, which the locals are opposing as it will lead to a loss of trees at the 3.5-acre park.Over 200 residents visited the civic garden on Saturday evening to light diyas and lamps, while awareness posters against the Rs 80 crore underground parking plan were also displayed during the protest.A few days earlier, citizens had also started a signature drive in order to cancel the Rs 80 crore plan of the NMMC to build underground parking underneath the popular civic garden in Nerul sector 8.Advocate Swapnil Gholap told TOI: “So far, we have collected over 850 signatures of citizens who said that they do not want any parking project under this lovely green garden, because it is going to destroy many trees here. The civic body can utilize this huge amount of Rs 80 crore for doing something more worthwhile for the city.”Chartered Accountant and Nerul resident Shweta Patil said: “At least 120 trees inside this garden will be affected if NMMC allows the plan to have underground parking here. Hence, this Diwali protest. Many citizens have expressed anxiety over the problems they will have to face if the construction of underground parking starts here.”A delegation of Nerul citizens will soon be meeting the NMMC commissioner in order to appeal for the cancellation of the underground parking.RTI activist Anarjit Chauhan commented: “In the recent past, the civic bodies in Navi Mumbai and also Mumbai had to cancel underground parking plans beneath gardens at Vashi and Bandra respectively. The citizens intuitively know and understand that a lot of taxpayers’ money will be wasted, or get into someone’s private pocket by destroying nature.”The office of the NMMC executive engineer has stated that at present only an architectural survey has been done on the land site to check if underground parking can be done there. Finally, the decision will be taken by the civic general body during its meeting.
