Mandals claim trees not pruned on visarjan routes

Ganesha mandals are a worried lot these days as on many immersion routes,the tree-trimming exercise hasn’t been done.

“Although the festival has started,the BMC has not yet completed the tree trimming exercise in many wards. It is a big risk to take the idols on these routes especially when so many deaths have occurred due to tree-falling incidents,” said Naresh Dahibaonkar,president of Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvaid Samiti. Girish Walawalkar,president of Balgopal Ganeshotsav Mandal of Grant Road,said: “The immersion day is nearing and trees have not been trimmed properly. Our route to Girgaum Chowpatty still has many untrimmed trees.”

Most problems,claimed mandals,have been faced on the route from Malabar Hill,Jagannath Shankarsett Marg,Annie Besant Road,Wilson College Road leading to Girgaum Chowpatty as the work is being done on a slow pace. “The tree-trimming exercise is being done at various wards,but as the growth of trees has been vigorous this year following an extreme summer and good rainfall,it has become a bigger challenge to undertake the exercise,” said a civic official.