Maha-Metro Seeks Land For Compensatory Plantation Of 41,000 Trees

Maha-Metro has approached local and state authorities seeking land to carry out compensatory plantation of 41,000 trees to offset vegetation lost during its infrastructure works. The corporation said the move forms part of measures to meet environmental clearance conditions and mitigation obligations arising from project activity. It outlined plans to identify suitable sites and to coordinate with relevant agencies for land allotment and long term maintenance.\n\nCompensatory plantation is required under environmental regulation to balance tree felling by establishing new green cover elsewhere and often involves selecting parcels of public or private land and ensuring survival of saplings through guarded planting and care. Maha-Metro indicated that securing contiguous land parcels will aid ecological restoration and help achieve planting density standards, while also addressing urban greening objectives. Officials expect the process to involve mapping potential sites, assessing soil and water availability, and delineating responsibilities for upkeep.\n\nThe request for land is likely to trigger consultations with municipal corporations, district authorities and forest departments to finalise locations and permissions, and may require agreements on tenancy, fencing and protection of planted areas. The corporation plans to submit detailed plantation plans and monitoring proposals as part of approvals and will work with local stakeholders to integrate the tree cover with existing green infrastructure. Observers said effective implementation would depend on timely allocation of land, clarity on maintenance funding and enforcement of survival guarantees.\n\nMaha-Metro will continue to pursue the land allotment and to coordinate with government agencies to meet its compensatory obligations while monitoring plantation progress and reporting outcomes as required. The initiative is expected to contribute to urban canopy restoration and to partially mitigate environmental impacts associated with linear infrastructure development. Authorities will review the proposals and communicate decisions on land allocation and implementation timelines.

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