Citizens should share responsibility of dangerous trees: BMC

Though the civic body ensures proper trimming and pruning of trees only on public premises, from 2008 to date, half the deaths due to tree collapses during the monsoon have occurred on private premises.

According to data available with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC) disaster management cell, of the eight deaths due to tree collapses from 2008 to date, four have taken place due to trees collapsing on private premises and two on public premises.

Of the other two, one happened when a fireman was crushed by a collapsed tree he was trying to help clear, while for the other, whether the location was public or private could not be ascertained.

All incidents except one have happened during monsoon.

The BMC carries out regular trimming and pruning of trees on public premises, with special emphasis on these activities before and during the monsoon. However, maintenance of trees on private premises is not their mandate. Housing societies and other private premises can approach the BMC's Tree Authority for permission to cut or prune trees.

However, activists say that in light of such incidents the BMC must assume responsibility. "Most people are not aware of the technicalities of trees," said Niranjan Shetty, former nominated member of the Tree Authority, who served during the time of these incidents.

In fact, in cases of emergency the civic body has the right to order the cutting of such trees, he said. "Section 383 of the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act allows the civic body to order the owner of any land to cut or trim a tree if it is insufficiently cut or trimmed. In fact, if the tree is dangerous to public safety, the BMC can enter the premises without notice and cut or prune the tree and recover the cost from the owners of the land," he said.

... contd.

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