BMC wakes up after 1,468 tree deaths

Civic body contemplates awarding Rs 12 crore contract to replace, water and maintain city's fast disappearing green cover

Civic body contemplates awarding Rs 12 crore contract to replace, water and maintain city's fast disappearing green cover

The BMC has a Rs 12-crore plan to restore the 1,468 trees that Mumbai lost this year to ageing, digging, heavy rains and disease.
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The amount will be paid to parties who are awarded tree maintenance contracts that would involve not only replacing lost trees but also watering, pruning and keeping them free of diseases.

A recent survey conducted by the BMC's gardens department reveals that the number of trees that the city has lost this year so far exceeds the total number of trees chopped in 2007 and 2008.
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L Wani, garden superintendent, BMC, said that the BMC tankers used to water the trees but the job was made difficult by shortage of personnel and that of water.

UPROOTED: In last two weeks of rain, more than 100 trees had fell in the city.

"The appointment of contractors should help us improve the situation.

They will be required to water, trim and treat the trees for diseases. We will provide them with fertilisers and medicines as and when required," added Wani.

The BMC is also planning to set up a tree bank that will help replace fallen trees.

"We are planning to create a bank for tree saplings to replace uprooted trees. This should help us to replace our lost green cover faster," Wani said.

100
The number of trees that fell following heavy rains in the first half of this month

313
The number of trees lost in Mumbai to construction in 2008

599
Total number of trees that died in Mumbai last year