BMC i.e. the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation issued directives to the developers for the creation of urban forests by using the Miyawaki technique in all their upcoming projects that fall under their jurisdiction. According to the directives, each building should create 50 percent open space in the common compound as an urban forest.
The civic officials said that this will create a green cover that will prove beneficial to curb pollution.
Praveen Pardeshi, Municipal commissioner gave directives according to which the civic body officials have to encourage the developers to include this provision in the projects to receive required sanctions.
According to the Miyawaki Technique, the saplings are planted at close quarters to create a canopy effect. This leaves the least space to walk through a dense forest. A civic engineer said, presently, the developers are complying with the directive because it has been issued by the BMC chief. The civic engineer, however, raised a query what if someone challenges it in court? We need a policy.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation also asked the developer’s association to come up with a presentation on this issue.
The Tree Authority formed under the Maharashtra [Urban Areas] Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, states that there should be atleast two trees per 10 metres of open space in building premises in the city. However, this number multiplies under the Miyawaki Technique.
A senior engineer in the building proposal department said that the policy to make Miyawaki Technique mandatory is not framed till now.
Recently, BMC also made changed to its current fire safety policy for all the Hi-rise buildings situated in Mumbai. According to the new policy, the same rules will also be applicable on the private plots too.