The Times of India 23.05.2018
3 weeks before rains, 50,000 trees posing danger yet to be trimmed
The south-west monsoon is expected to hit the city in another three
weeks, but the BMC is yet to trim nearly 50,000 of the 93,353 trees
identified as posing threats of fall of branches during heavy wind or
rain.
Similarly, the civic body is also yet to remove 65 of the 534 dead
trees identified this year. Last month, a 38 year old man died after a
tree collapsed over him in Dadar’s Naigaon area.
“We aim to complete pruning of branches and removal of dead trees by May 31,” said Kishore Kshirsagar, deputy municipal commissioner in charge of garden department.
But citizens are skeptical. King Circle resident Nikhil Desai
said he had given BMC officials a list of trees in dangerous condition
that needed immediate trimming. “However its unlikely that the BMC will
be able to complete all the trimming by May 31,” said Desai.
Besides, there are questions why there’s nearly 45% increase in the
number of trees identified for trimming, compared to last year (64,454).
Kshirsagar attributed it to a careful scrutiny of trees this year.
“The BMC horticulture assistant, junior tree officers as well as
assistant superintendent of gardens have been asked to go on rounds to
ensure that in case they see any tree leaning or infested, then action
plan should be prepared to ensure that such trees are either pruned or
removed,” he said.
Activists and citizens say the “chopping spree” may make the trees unstable without proper support.
“Excessive pruning will be harmful to trees,” Khar
resident Zoru Bathena said, adding that following the recent death of a
Dadar resident in a tree crash, the BMC is pruning more trees.
Environmentalist Rishi Agarwal
said he recently saw a BMC van take away the branches that were cut
from a tree. “These were thin branches and did not require any trimming
Even if these small branches fell they were unlikely to cause any harm,” he said.
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BMC
is trimming trees that are on the roadside but the same tree extends
dangerously inside building compounds; the BMC is not trimming them and
thereby causing serious concerns for citizens
said trimming of trees was much needed to ensure they are balanced.
“Imbalanced trees could cause an untoward incident during rains,” said
Vora.
In some localities, citizens themselves are ensuring appropriate trimming. At Dadar Parsi Colony, a group of residents ensures that they watch over when the BMC cuts and prunes trees in their are.
