Taking serious note of mid-day’s article on how construction material was choking a heritage banyan tree, the contractor appointed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has started clearing the materials surrounding the base of the tree near an under construction metro station of the Dahisar-Andheri East Metro-7, near Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Centre.

An MMRDA official said, “Instructions were given to the concerned officials to look into the issue and the work of clearing the construction material surrounding the tree started on Saturday itself.” Sources said the sudden action came after Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday morning instructed the MMRDA authorities to immediately look into it.