Indian Express 28.09.2010
BMC to compensate victims of tree collapse
Express News Service Tags : compensate, victim, tree collapse Posted: Tue Sep 28 2010, 00:19 hrs
MUmbai: After repeated incidents of tree collapse, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to compensate the victims. In the general body meeting of the civic body on Monday, corporators approved the new policy according to which the kin of a person who dies due to a tree collapse will receive Rs 1 lakh while those who suffer from a life-long deformity will be given Rs 50,000. Those who get minor injuries will get free treatment in civic hospitals.Vilas Chavri, a member of the tree authority committee, said since many citizens have been injured due to tree collapse, it is important to formulate a compensation policy for them. “The BMC does not have enough manpower to keep a tab on all the trees in the city. But we have asked the gardens department to carry out regular pruning especially before the monsoon when there are greater chances of tree collapse,” said Chavri. The policy was formulated by the tree authority committee and was approved by the general body.
Deputy municipal commissioner (gardens) Chandrashekhar Rokde said, “We are short of staff and machinery but plans are on to acquire better machines and keep a check on trees not only on BMC land but also on private premises,” said Rokade.
As many as three persons have suffered serious injuries after branches of a tree fell on them this monsoon. One person died after a large jamun tree fell on him near the general post office on September 7.
