Eco Pals

2008 Order Not To Concretize Base Of A Tree Never Followed

Mumbai: 2 days after a woman and her daughter died when a tree fell at Nariman Point on Sunday, the BMC announced that 1.5 meters space will have to be kept open around the base of a tree. Tough such a rule always existed with the tree authority, it was never implemented and that the base of the banyan tree that uprooted was sealed with paver blocks.

In March 2008, the tree authority proposed that 15 inches around the base of a tree in the city should not be blocked with paver blocks or concrete. The space to be covered in mud and manure should have a boundary of bricks.

Tree Authority member Nilesh Baxi said that it was a pity that the directive was never followed. “Owing to the paver block or concrete seal, in many cases water cannot seep to the roots, even during monsoon,” he said.

Experts say the utility providers also caused damage. “There should be more junior engineers to keep a check on trees,” said TA (Tree Authority) member Niranjan Shetty. Decline to comment if the civic body was short staffed, deputy municipal commissioner Suhas Karavande said the post for a junior tree officer was creating two ago.

                                                                                           -Risshi Jain