967 trees affected by Manori desalination plant phase; 28 to be felled, 939 to be transplanted

A total of 967 trees may be affected in the phase under way at Manori of Mumbai's first desalination plant, officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. The proposal of the department concerned is still going through the administrative process.

According to officials, the proposal has reached the office of the BMC's Superintendent of Garden and Tree Officer, where a hearing is to be held. On current requirements, 28 trees will have to be cut on 12 hectares of land. These include large and old trees. The remaining 939 trees, or 97 per cent, are mostly young palms and ferns and will be replanted elsewhere.

A civic official familiar with the matter said, "The 939 trees will be transplanted within the boundary of the project land itself. The soil and weather will not change, so their chances of survival will improve." The Tree Authority may also order new trees to be planted as compensation. According to a civic official, the matter should be placed before the authority at its December meeting.

The next steps are that the hearing before the Superintendent of Garden and Tree Officer may bring suggestions, objections and recommendations on the proposal. The proposal will then go to the Municipal Secretary and after that to the Tree Authority. The authority is headed by the municipal commissioner and has 25 members. The panel can suggest changes and directions, and can approve or reject the proposal.

Godfrey Pimenta, trustee of the Watchdog Foundation, said, "The aim of giving Mumbai more water cannot justify an avoidable environmental loss. Those running the project must show that other sites and other designs have been properly examined and that the loss of trees cannot be avoided. These details should also be placed before the public for scrutiny."

Stalin D, director of Vanashakti, said, "Trees have no safety in Mumbai. We have seen this many times before. Everything is promised on paper, and then nothing is seen on the ground. Transplanting trees is costly and tiring work. I do not think the BMC will be able to do it properly. That beautiful stretch of public land will be ruined for this project."

The project at a glance: It is in Manori village in Borivali taluka. The total land is about 29 hectares, of which the first phase covers 12 hectares. Work began on December 15, 2025. The initial capacity of 200 MLD (the current phase) is to be achieved by December 2029, while the 400 MLD expansion is to be completed in the second half of 2030. Major CRZ and MoEFCC clearances have been received, but the tree-related permissions from the Tree Authority are yet to come.

The tree count: There are 971 trees on the 12 hectares of the first phase. Of these, 4 will remain, 967 will be affected, 28 will be cut and 939 will be replanted.