A plot in Aarey Milk Colony, once used to transplant over 100 fully grown trees felled for the construction of the Mumbai Metro, shows little trace of reforestation. A mid-day ground check revealed that most of the transplanted trees have vanished, confirming long-standing fears that the process would end up being more symbolic than sustainable.

The same land is now being used for a new plantation drive, raising questions about accountability, success rates, and the seriousness of compensatory afforestation.

Environmentalists quite rightly point out that trees are repeatedly cut and ‘replaced’ with little monitoring or outcome. Locals say more than 100 new saplings were planted here barely ten days ago, with permission from the Aarey CEO’s office.