BMC axes 741 weak trees to brace for monsoon

To keep ailing trees from falling on people, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Garden Department has hacked and pruned trees that may pose a danger during monsoons, owing to the heavy rains and winds.

"In the island city as well as the western and the eastern suburbs, a total of about 540 dead and dangerous trees have been cut in public places, about 194 in housing societies and on private premises, and six on the railways premises," said an official of the Garden Department on condition of anonymity.

A total of 741 dead and dangerous trees have been hacked and 18,750 trees have been pruned all over the city since last October. Speaking about the procedure of tree pruning in housing societies, joint municipal commissioner S S Shinde said, "People send us requests to prune trees that may cause damage to life or property. Based on these requests we carry out an inspection. After that the necessary permission is issued and we take the required action."

A tree collapsed on a house at Damu Nagar in Kandivli (East) on Monday. Most members in the house were out when the incident took place but an elderly woman sustained minor injuries. However, the incident has rendered the residents without a shelter at least for now. Pics/Vishal Yadav

The Garden Department will be planting about 61,000 saplings in 171 recreational grounds and playgrounds to restore environmental balance. According to the 2008 tree census, there are a total of 1.9 million trees in Mumbai. "The tree census is conducted every five years and we will start with the next census soon," Shinde added.

Number of trees cut in the city
Public places: 541 trees
Housing societies: 194 trees
Railway premises: 6 trees