Mumbai: Actor Sayaji Shinde criticizes plan to cut 158 trees to build hostel at Sion Hospital

Mumbai: Renowned actor Sayaji Shinde has opposed the cutting of 158 trees for the construction of a hostel on the premises of the civic-run Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, popularly known as Sion Hospital.

Releasing a Twitter video for the hospital management, Shinde asked how a health facility that saves lives can allow "158 deaths", adding that the numbering of trees had begun and two had already been cut. 

Twitter video - https://twitter.com/SayajiShinde/status/1522225784009621504

"I expect the hospital to reverse its decision to cut down trees for the new hostel. It is going to be like a bombshell on these trees. The world of birds and animals on these trees will be destroyed," he said and asked if there was no other way for the hostel to be built. 

When contacted, a Sion hospital official confirmed the plan to cut trees but added that it was a necessity for the future expansion of the hospital from a 1200-bed facility to a 3000-bed one in two phases.

Also read- Sion Hospital And Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS) Launch Project To Examine Impact Of Diabetes And Hypertension In HIV Patients

The hospital's Infrastructure Cell has taken formal permission from the Tree Authority for the work.

Talking about the project, Dr. Mohan Joshi, dean of the hospital, said, "We have taken due permission from the Tree Authority of BMC for felling the trees. It is not an individual decision of the hospital. Also, we are in the process of identifying land for the re-transplantation and plantation of the trees."

At present, the hospital's hostel has 196 rooms and the number of students there was over 200, while arrangements have been made for over 1,000 resident doctors in MHADA buildings nearby, an official said, reports outlook.

As part of the expansion plan, a 20-storey structure will come up, he said, adding that it was essential to demolish the existing hostel and some other staff quarters before starting work.

While many came in support of the actor's statement while others bashed him for raising the issue without knowing the proper information.