BMC Garden Cell issues directives to protect trees during road concretisation

“The roads department has taken up concretising and asphalting of large number of roads in Mumbai city and suburbs. However, while carrying out digging works without taking any kind of care, the roots and trunks of these trees get damaged and the trees become so weak that they may get uprooted whenever there is some wind…,” read the Garden Cell’s proposal.

“It is also necessary to keep a one-metre distance between the metal barricades and tree basins. However, it has been observed that this gap is not maintained and construction debris are being dumped at the basin, damaging the roots. We have received complaints from several citizens regarding these, therefore we request that measures be taken,” stated the proposal.

The cell, in its list of directives, has mentioned that digging and trenching work of roads near tree basins should be carried out manually instead of JCB machines to avoid damage to the roots.

Furthermore, the cell said that debris or cement shouldn’t be dumped on the tree basins and the contractors should provide manure to trees that fall in the alignment of the concretisation work. The Garden Cell stated that after the new roads are constructed, new trees will be planted at a 10-15 metre distance.

The directives stated that in case a tree falls within the alignment of a proposed road, the department will have to file an application before the Garden Cell during the tendering stage for felling and transplanting the tree.

“Over the past one year, we have seen many trees are being affected due to careless approach of the contractors. These circulars will be like a set of guidelines, which will ensure accountability as well as mandate for the contractors not to harm trees. This proposal… once approved, will be circulated across departments in BMC,” said a civic official.

“With so many construction works and infrastructure projects ongoing in the city, it is also important to increase green cover in Mumbai,” added the official.

Green activist Zoru Bhathena said that along with making space for utilities, drains and footpaths, the authorities should create designated basins for planting trees and saplings.

“The law says that trees should be planted on both sides of the road. But there’s hardly any space for planting new trees. The side of these roads are also concretised in a manner that the trees cannot thrive. Now, the BMC should consider creating dedicated basins where trees should grow in a way that they wouldn’t be affected by external disturbances in the future,” Bhathena told The Indian Express.