Experts meet top BMC official to suggest changes in tree policy
Seven botany, horticulture and forestry experts met Additional Municipal Commissioner Aseem Gupta on Thursday to suggest changes in the tree policy to avoid incidents of tree collapse in the future. Three days ago, a woman and her baby died after a Banyan tree fell on them at Nariman Point.
“We will initiate a survey of unhealthy trees across the city starting tomorrow. Also, the tree policy will ensure that any outward activity by an agency or authority will not affect the tree,” said Gupta, referring to concretization or digging which weaken the roots.
Explaining the meaning of unhealthy tress, expert Avinash Kubal, “By unhealthy, we mean trees which are mature, overgrown or whose branches have a tendency to break easily. We will identify these vulnerable trees and suggest remedial measures such as pruning or trimming.” The experts will also work out the root role of each tree and give recommendations about what can be done to improve its health.
Elaborating on the immediate measures which will be undertaken, Kubal said, “Officers at the ward level will inspect trees which are susceptible to falling or those which have a heavy human presence around it such as in schools and railway stations. If a tree is identified as dangerous, people will be warned not to venture around it during rains.”
“The entire process will be completed before August-end,” Gupta said.
According to the tree census of 2007, there are around 19 lakh trees in the city. But there are only 50 officials across the civic administration who are responsible for activities such as pruning and trimming, sources said. Most tree falling incidents occur in central and south Mumbai as some trees are more over 100 years old, officials said. Typically, the BMC undertakes pruning and trimming activities from June to September, but green activists believe this should be done round the year.