30 June,2014 10:03 AM IST | | Abhishek Dandekar
Residents of Mahatma Gandhi Nagar in Bandra (East) claim that unidentified miscreants come to their area every night, and lop off branches of trees so that pedestrians can get a good look at adverts
Hoardings
While the BMC is known to trim trees in the monsoons to prevent weakened branches from causing mishaps during heavy rainfall, tree trimming of a different kind in Mahatma Gandhi Nagar in Bandra (E) has been giving residents sleepless nights.
Branches of trees that earlier obscured advertisement hoardings were selectively axed in the dead of night, to provide a better view of the hoardings. Pics/Rane Ashish
They claim that miscreants have been arriving stealthily every night to lop off the branches of trees that would otherwise obscure hoardings. Shiv Sena Corporator Anil Trimbakkar recently sent a letter to the BMC, asking it to intervene and take action against those who are involved in the illegal trimming of trees.
He said, "I had sent a letter to the BMC a few days ago, informing them that unknown people have been trimming trees in front of hoardings. I have still not received a response, and no action has been taken against the miscreants, who usually trim the trees late in the night."
Residents said that they started noticing the trimmed trees a few days ago, and that branches of trees that earlier obscured advertisement hoardings were selectively axed in the dead of night, ostensibly to provide a
better view of the hoardings. The hoardings advertise newly released films as well as brands.
Residents from nearby apartments, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that they have even caught some of the men lopping off the branches around 2 am. They claimed that the miscreants told them that they have been hired on contract basis.
"Even though there has hardly been any rainfall, several trees have been unnecessarily trimmed to provide a clear view of the hoardings to commuters and pedestrians. We do not know who employed these men, but I have seen them start working around 2 am," said a resident.
When asked, Assistant Municipal Commissioner Ajitkumar Ambi of the H-East (Bandra) ward said, "Tree trimming is common in the monsoon season, but action will be taken against the miscreants and the concerned company if it is proved that the trees are being trimmed to provide a better view of the hoardings."
