BMC T-Ward begins pruning of trees; residents allege strong branches also hacked!

BMC T-Ward has started to prune branches of trees that are in a dangerous condition before the monsoons. The step is being taken considering the number of deaths and accidents that occurred last year due to tree falls. In fact, a few weeks back, some girls were injured in Mulund (E) when a huge tree branch fell over them. Hence, each year before monsoon, BMC trims unsafe branches which are elongated and hazardous as they can collapse during storms and cyclones during monsoon and cause accidents.

In Mulund T-Ward the contract for pruning tree has been given to Kamal Enterprise. While the work of pruning of trees is in full swing in Mulund, however, people allege the contractor is not only pruning weak branches but even strong branches are being hacked in a bid to complete the job hurriedly.
When Home Times spoke to Gajanan, the owner of Kamal Enterprise, he said, “We do the pruning of trees cautiously and every attempt is made to check the tree is safe and sound and none of its parts is harmed. The workers are trained professionals and do their job within the guidelines of the law.”
However, residents claim plants and trees are imperative for the environment hence their wanton pruning should be stopped. Defending himself about the allegations by the people that strong branches are also being trimmed by the contractors, Gajanan said, “Sometimes we have to prune strong branches also, but this is done only when such branches become a threat and appear obvious to collapse and cause an accident during stormy weather conditions.”

Abhijeet Chavan, ex-Tree Authority Member of BMC, condemning the late process of pruning trees told, Home Times, “First of all, let me inform you that this year the process of pruning of trees has been delayed. This is tragic because last year BMC’s Tree Department faced a lot of criticism for its negligence in inspections even after numerous complaints of tree pruning. Thus, this year, BMC should have been more vigilant but, alas, it has failed.”

“Secondly, the billing of trimming of trees is based on the collection of the trash obtained after trimming the trees. Hence, in a bid to make more money, the contactors haphazardly trim trees and many times even slash important and strong branches,” he rued.
An avid tree lover, Abhijeet Chavan suggested, “Through Home Times I wish to suggest to BMC that every Ward must have a dedicated team of BMC officials from the Tree Department who are present during trimming of trees and keep a vigilant eye on the contractor’s work. Secondly, if there is any complaint in any Ward, then the Tree Department officials should act immediately before any accidents occur.”

Residents in Mulund are also unhappy with the leftover trash of trimmed trees by the contractor’s men. A resident told Home Times, “In Mulund, at most places trees are being trimmed but what is annoying is that the contractors are not picking the trash of the trimmed trees. Due to this, tree branches are scattered here and there on the roads and this is causing great hardship for pedestrians walking on the roads.”

A BMC T-Ward official from Tree Department told Home Times, “The trimming of trees is essential to keep the trees in balance. Also, during monsoon, there is a huge possibility of weak branches collapsing due to stormy winds. Hence, as a precaution, we prune such weak branches to avoid accidents.”

BOX 
Ward-wise list of trees in Mulund  
In Mulund, there are, in total, 76,209 trees (both big and small). Here is a list of trees located Ward-wise…
Ward 103 has trees on 11 roads
Ward 104 has trees on 12 roads
Ward 105 has trees on 20 roads
Ward 106 has trees on 13 roads
Ward 107 has trees on 22 roads
Ward 108 has trees on 14 roads
Thus in nutshell, there are a total of 92 roads in T-Ward and trimming of trees is being carried out on each road.