In a rare victory to the residents, the BMC's tree authority has backtracked from hacking hundreds of trees for the Powai Lake beautification, settling to move just 30 trees in a new proposal. The authorities have also agreed to plant 300 more trees around the jogging track to make the area lush. In February, the tree authority had put notices on 150 trees that would be uprooted to lay a two km jogging track as part of the Rs 12-crore beautification project. However, after three months of incessant protests by residents, the tree authority last week reconsidered their proposal. Of the 30 trees now proposed for uprooting, 27 are to be transplanted and only three cut. Confirming the new proposal, R N Kulkarni, Executive Engineer, Projects, BMC, who is in-charge of the Powai Lake beautification, said, "Thanks to the residents persistence, we have brought down the number of trees to be removed to one-fifth of the original proposal. Instead of cutting so many trees, we have decided to transplant them. Transplantation needs special care, but with a little hardwork we'll be able to ensure that all the trees adapt to their new environment.' The proposal was drawn up on Friday last week, he said. "Even the three trees to be cut are babul trees, often considered of less value,' he pointed out. Babul is a medium-sized tree, that doesn't grow too high nor gives much shade. The BMC officials are now commending the Powai residents for being proactive and insightful. Having shortlisted 277 trees to be cut originally, officials said, it was only because of the people's initiative that the number was brought down to 144 in February, and now to 30. According to Nikhil Desai, a member of the F/North Citizens' Federation, who has been fighting to retain the natural environment on this stretch, "Any project that the authorities come up with