BMC to finally start counting trees
Mumbai: After a period of nine years, the BMC will conduct the much-needed
tree census in the city. Following a PIL on the indiscriminate felling of
trees in the city, a year back the BMC had promised the high court that it
would complete the tree census by December 2006. However, the BMC’s Tree
Authority has now pushed the deadline for the tree census exercise further
to June 2007.
The BMC had last undertaken the census in 1998 even though the
Maharashtra (urban areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act (1975)
states that the exercise has to be carried out once every five years. It has
assigned the task of coming up with a detailed profile of the green cover in
the city to a private organisation, ‘Environmental and Biotechnology
Foundation’ (ENBITECH), which has earlier carried out the tree census in
Nashik, Thane and Mira-Bhayander. A team of around 30 horticulturists from
ENBITECH is currently carrying out a ward-byward survey that covers trees on
all public and private properties.
“The current census is likely to show an increase in the green cover as
the scope of inclusion has been increased. Earlier census in 1998 took into
account only trees with more than six inches diameter at the height of four
feet above the ground, but the current census will include trees or plants
with the stem having a diameter of 1.5 inches,” said SA Hegde, deputy
superintendent of gardens (tree authority).
The team has been physically measuring the girth of trees and recording
details such as height, type, age, condition, number of trees as well as
specific details such as whether it belongs to some rare species. Civic
officials have requested property owners to cooperate with these teams and
to let them carry out work in their premises. “The census helps in striking
a balance through planned plantation and also in conserving rare trees or
treating and saving unhealthy trees,” added Hegde.
As per the 1998 census, Mumbai has over 5 lakh trees. R-North (Dahisar)
ward had the maximum number of trees (61,007) followed by S (Bhandup) ward
(56,759) while B (Nagpada) ward had the least green cover (11,652 trees).
Old core areas like Vile Parle, Hindu colony in Dadar were found to have a
rich variety of vegetation that was well protected by local citizens. Public
places in areas such as MG Road, Unnat Nagar, Yeshwant Nagar in P South
(Goregaon) ward have a good number of old trees and a satisfactory cover.
Constant digging was found to be affecting the roots of trees, uprooting
them during the monsoon. The tree cover in private properties was greater as
compared to public properties. Most common avenue trees were Gulmohar,
Ashok, Copper Pod, Karanj and Ladyfingers. Most common trees in private
properties were Banyan, Peepal and Jamun.