Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated an urgent tree survey called 'Dead Dangerous Tree' on Monday, due to the recent heatwave observed in city. The 'Dead Dangerous Tree' survey is designed to locate weakened trees along city roads affected by low moisture and excessive concretisation.
In the coming eight days, about 1,000 trees will be evaluated, focusing on regions where road concreting is taking place. Officials indicated that trees need a one-square-metre zone around their roots for healthy growth, which is frequently jeopardized by contractors who fail to maintain sufficient space, incorrectly park materials, and disrupt soil stability during operations.
Activist Godfrey Pimenta expressed worries to the state environment department about 50 trees in Andheri East, arguing that dense concrete installation suffocates them by obstructing water and air circulation.
Pointing to a 2015 directive from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that requires the removal of concrete within a one-metre radius of trees, BMC officials, including additional municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar, recognized the importance of following this rule.
“The road department is well aware of this rule, and we are supposed to ensure that adequate space is left around the trees,” said Abhijit Bangar, additional municipal commissioner (projects), BMC according to report by Hindustan Times.
Additionally, environmental advocate Zoru Bhathena submitted a PIL in the Bombay High Court, promoting adequate spacing for trees on either side of roads and highlighting that the BMC's road policy overlooked tree protection, underlining the legal obligation to maintain trees along roadsides.
