Over 100 trees collapse in a week; NGO says BMC paid little heed to NGT order
Civic officials from the tree department have attributed the tree falls primarily to the digging work underway in Mumbai for real estate and infrastructure projects.
A total of 113 trees collapsed in the island city and suburbs between July 18 and 23, with 56 cases reported between July 19 and 20 alone. (PTI)
Listen to this articleYour browser does not support the audio element.
Mumbai has lost a significant portion of its green cover, as more than 100 trees collapsed in the city during the past one week as torrential rain lashed the city continuously.
The city reeled under relentless heavy rain in the past one week, with rain figures touching the three digit mark thrice. The city recorded the highest rainfall of this season between July 21 and 22.
You’ve Read Your Free Stories For Now
Sign up and keep reading more stories that matter to you.
According to figures recorded by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a total of 113 trees collapsed in the island city and suburbs between July 18 and 23, with 56 cases reported between July 19 and 20 alone. The civic body’s data also states that of the 113 trees that collapsed, 50 were from western suburbs, 32 from eastern suburbs, and 31 were from island city.
It is pertinent to note that after the onset of monsoon in Mumbai on June 25, the city lost close to 100 trees within a week.
Meanwhile, civic officials from the tree department have attributed the tree falls primarily to the digging work underway in Mumbai for real estate and infrastructure projects. “Along with rain, we were also recording heavy to very heavy gusts that blew at a speed of 50 kmph, and a few trees couldn’t withstand the pressure as roots couldnt hold ground. During rains, leaves and branches of the trees also become heavy as they soak water,” said an official.
“In the past year, several roads have been being dug up, thus damaging the tree basins. This is one of the contributing factors, and so we have already asked the roads department to erect barricades around tree basins, wherever digging needs to be done,” the official added.
Civic officials also maintained that many trees that fell were in the periphery of private buildings as several societies don’t prune trees annually, which poses a threat to residents.
Stalin D, environmentalist and director of NGO, Vanashakti, told The Indian Express that they had predicted this outcome in 2015, following which they had approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) court of India.
“More trees fall in Mumbai because no other city concretises tree basins. The concretisation robs trees of soil moisture, and they become dehydrated from within. Paucity of water within the trees causes them to lose equilibrium and collapse at the first onslaught of rain,” Stalin told The Indian Express.
“After we went to NGT, the court ordered BMC to implement remedial measures but nothing has been implemented on ground till date. As a damage control measure they are just pruning branches, which is of no use, because by removing a few branches you can’t restore a tree’s balance,” he said.
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
