BMC standing committee floats proposal on monsoon tree audit

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday said that 812 trees were uprooted in Mumbai during Hurricane Tauktae on May 17. Of the total trees, 504 trees fell on private property and 308 trees fell on public spaces, a statement said. The statement said 307 trees fell in the western suburbs, 256 in the eastern suburbs, and 249 in the city.

 

About 70% of the total trees belong to various foreign species such as Peltoforum, Gulmohar, Thespisia, and Royal Palm. In M (West) ward (Chembur, Tilak Nagar) most of the trees (84) were uprooted. H (West) Ward (Bandra (West), Khar, Santa Cruz) 67 Trees and K (West) Ward (Andheri (West), Juhu, Versova) 53 Trees. In Mumbai, 1,454 branches collapsed due to the cyclone. Members of the BMC Standing Committee suggested that a scientific examination of the trees be conducted to avoid such disasters in the future. 

 

Visakha Rao, a senior Shiv Sena corporator and home leader of a civic body, issued an order and supported the demand. The party members were unanimous in their support. The uprooted trees have caused great damage in every form in the last two days. What if the wind speed is higher than it was in the hurricane? Asked Rut. 

 

She said the issue of protecting trees more scientifically needs to be looked into by the municipal government and a policy of conducting regular tree audits should be implemented. The corporators pointed out that BMC has not yet removed the uprooted trees from their areas, even though more than 48 hours have passed. BMC must be active. Leader of the Opposition in the House Ravi Raja said that the felling of trees has been a constant problem for years.

 

BMC has been operating day and night since the day of the hurricane. However, Asif Zakaria, a Congress corporator from Bandra, said that in many places in my constituency, the uprooted trees have not yet been removed. Meanwhile, BMC senior officials said it was taking time to clear the trees as there was massive damage. We need to partially cut down the trees and only then can we clear them. The chopping process is time-consuming, which is why it takes longe%r than usual, said a senior official at the BMC Garden Cell. 

 

Another senior civic official said BMC had already cut down trees in most parts of the city and only the process of removing the debris remained. Authorities said all roads would be cleared within the next two days. 

 

We have also received a proposal to start tree audits and we may be able to consider this proposal as well, he added. BMC said in a statement that the garden department would resume its policies and would soon add a tree audit policy.