DNA

• Residents accuse massive tree felling; caretakers begin blame game

Mumbai, May 25: It was yet another destruction of green space, and once again, it was exposed by alert residents. The place: Malabar Hill. The venue: the historic Jinnah House, a colonial style bungalow and a listed Grade 2A heritage precinct spread over 2.5 acres. The only green lung of South Mumbai is now in state of neglect which has led to massive tree felling - some by natural disasters and others by gross cutting.

The blame game has begun. Its owner, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) officials, washed their hands of, saying that it is the responsibility of Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) which was given the contract to convert it into the proposed South Asia Centre for Arts and Culture. INTACH, on the other hand, told DNA that it was yet to begun its work and would wait for the Tree Authority to intervene.

Amid his deadlock, the green cover continues to be lost.

“Last monsoon, many palm trees fell down. Many big branches of the trees are falling continuously, but no tree is being cut off,” said B M Pandey, security guard of SPM services, which protects the precinct. “Aab yeh jungle saaf ho jayega aur naya museum banega (this jungle will be cleared now as a museum is coming up), he said. But residents disagree stating that the trees were slowly chopped off.

“It is utter dereliction and criminal neglect which is made the showpiece property of Mumbai into an orphan. Today, the bougainvillea does not blossom at all. We have never seen any ICCR official ever visit the place,” said author Vimla Patil, a next-door resident.

“In the past, we have seen the lush lawns of Jinnah House full of palm, rusty shield bearer, papaya trees with peacocks, koyals, parrots, bats and owls. It was our own

sanctuary. This gradual loss of greenery must be stopped immediately,” said Shakun Narain, resident for a building overlooking the bungalow.  When contacted, N K Mallik, assistant programme officer, ICCR (Mumbai) said that the trees had “automatically” fallen. “No tree-cutting has been done,” he said. “The area is now being cleared for restoration by INTACH and they should answer further queries,” he said.

Tasneem Mehta, convener, INATCH (Mumbai chapter) refused to get into the controversy stating that they are yet to kick-start the restoration work. “I have heard about many dead trees in the bungalow compound. We want to start work, but before that the Tree Authority must clear them,” she said.