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As mercury rises, BMC initiates emergency tree survey to prevent incidents of collapse

Officials said that from Monday, nearly 500-1,000 trees will be surveyed across Mumbai and the overall process will be completed within a week.

Activists argued that the loss of more than 300 trees has already disturbed local biodiversity and that any additional felling would further alter one of Nashik’s most ecologically sensitive stretches. (File Photo)

With Mumbai recording above normal temperatures for more than a week now, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated an emergency survey starting Monday to identify trees whose roots have started to weaken and shrink.

Civic officials said the rise in temperature reduces the moisture in tree roots and they start to shrink, rendering them unable to retain grip on the ground and ultimately causing the tree’s collapse. Officials said that from Monday, nearly 500-1,000 trees will be surveyed and the overall process will be completed within a week.

Mumbai experienced a heatwave between February 25 and 26, and recorded daily maximum temperatures between 36 and 38 degree Celsius over the past week.

“At present, due to the ongoing road concretising works, almost all roads in Mumbai are dug up. The utility lines are also shifted by digging trenches. These activities make the soil particles loose, after which trees are unable to anchor themselves. Meanwhile, the sudden rise in temperature is shrinking the roots, increasing the possibility of trees falling in Mumbai,” said an official.

An official said trees with a bigger canopy need their roots to spread over a larger area but the roots are sometimes restricted within two feet to make way for the creation of roads and footpaths. This also makes it prone to collapse in the long run.

“During summer, tree branches also become dry. As part of the survey, we will also identify such weak branches and remove them,” the official added.

At present, Mumbai has around 29.75 lakh trees, officials said. The last tree census was carried out in 2011 and civic officials said a new tree count survey will be carried out this year.

Pratip Acharya

Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting. City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019. State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis. Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express. Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More

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