The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) in Maharashtra has proposed to cut down a nearly 150-year-old banyan tree in Balkum for a road-widening project, prompting strong opposition from environmentalists. Activists, including Rohit Joshi, argue that the banyan tree qualifies as a heritage specimen and should be preserved. They have raised concerns about the TMC's lack of transparency in its public notice, which allegedly fails to mention the tree's age and species. Furthermore, they assert that the proposal may violate the Maharashtra Tree Protection and Preservation Act, 1975, and previous directives from the Bombay High Court regarding tree-felling norms. Environmentalist Pooja Kulkarni highlighted the ecological value of mature trees, stressing that cutting down such a tree during extreme heat waves is unjustifiable. A senior official from the Tree Authority confirmed that objections have been received and will be reviewed, indicating a preference for preserving the tree and exploring alternative solutions for road expansion.