The country's financial capital Mumbai has also raised flags around the world in terms of environmental protection. It has been declared the 'Tree City of the World' by the United Nations for 2021. Mumbai is at the forefront of tree care and maintenance in both government and non-government sectors. Last week, Dan Lambe, CEO of the Arbor Day Foundation, told the horticulture department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) that Mumbai is proud to be the world's tree city for 2021.
After receiving the award, the state's environment minister Aaditya Thackeray also lauded the BMC officials for the achievement. He also honoured the Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal and Horticulture Superintendent Jitendra Pardeshi by presenting a copy of the certificate received from Arbor Day Foundation. Speaking on the occasion, Horticulture Superintendent Jitendra Pardeshi said that Mumbai was not only at the forefront of planting but also in taking care of them. From residential areas to community forestry, Mumbai is moving forward in a planned manner. For this, he has created a tree of authority. Plants are planted and maintained under the supervision of this authority.
The rules for felling or pruning trees in multi-storey residential establishments in Mumbai are very strict. That is why no one dares to cut down these trees. Every year before the rain, BMC's horticulture department sends its special vehicles to all the residential establishments for the felling of trees.
Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Aarey Colony and Mumbai Film City also play a major role in making Mumbai a city of trees. Including these three, Mumbai has a green area of about 110 sq km. The presence of a national park in the middle of a metropolis like Mumbai is a surprise to tourists.
Every year, millions of trees in Mumbai's residential and public areas are cut down before the rain, as the rain last for about five months. This causes the trees to turn green again. Most of the wood pruned before the rainy season is used for cremation at Mumbai's crematorium. The human side is that the timber is provided free of cost by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. That is why while there were reports of bodies being dumped and buried in rivers in many parts of the country during the Covid last year, the cremation continued smoothly despite Mumbai being the worst affected by the epidemic. In addition, compost is made from the leaves of felled trees. It is used only in the gardens of Mumbai.
