BMC tells Mulund society to pay for trimming tree

The banyan tree at Anil Apartment fell on the adjacent chawl after it got uprooted during Cyclone Tauktae

Residents of some housing societies in the city are fuming over notices sent by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demanding charges for trimming and transplanting trees in their compounds, which fell during Cyclone Tauktae. One such society in Mulund, Anil Apartment, received a notice asking them to pay Rs 14,067 for trimming the branches of a banyan tree, which got uprooted during the cyclone and fell on the adjacent chawl area. The notice even mentions transplanting the tree in the same spot. The issue escalated when residents of the chawl objected to transplantation of the tree, as they feared a similar mishap would happen again.

Opposing charges

Housing societies in the city have been opposing the charges levied by the BMC for trimming trees before monsoon. The issue once again surfaced after the cyclone uprooted 812 trees and broke branches of 1,454 trees. Out of these, 308 uprooted trees were in public areas and the rest were in private spaces.

"There are another four trees on our society premises. This banyan tree wasn't planted by anyone. It grew near the wall of the building and we didn't cut it. The cyclone uprooted the tree and it fell on the adjacent chawl. Now the BMC has sent us a notice to pay R14,067 for trimming the branches of the tree," said Sandip Salvi, resident of the building.

Also Read: Housing societies to bear cost of tree trimming: BMC

"The cyclone was a natural calamity and instead of helping us, the corporation slapped a notice to transplant the tree. How can we afford to do it? Even the residents of the neighbouring chawl were opposing the transplantation of such a big tree," said Dilip Mhapuskar, secretary of Anil building.

Ashwini Keni, a resident of Hirabai Keni chawl told mid-day, "The tree fell on a house where two paralysed people stay. Luckily, it got tangled on an iron rod of the roof and no one was hurt. But we fear a similar incident might happen again if the tree is transplanted without any support."

Following this, the BMC tree officer visited the site on Saturday and got the tree transplanted in an 8-feet deep dig. "We like trees and that's why we didn't cut it but we need support from the BMC. We cannot pay such huge charges," added Mhapuskar.

Same issue

"This is not the only case. Another society, Aryavart in Deshmukhwadi faced the same issue. The BMC asked them to pay R9,382 for trimming trees. I have been constantly raising the issue and demanding that such charges be waived off for housing societies. Such a stand of the corporation will discourage people from planting trees in their premises," said Prabhakar Shinde, local corporator and group leader of BJP in the BMC.

"In our ward, we refuse to pay any such charges. It is the BMC's duty. People are not in a situation to pay such hefty charges," said Abhijeet Samant, corporator from
Andheri East.

"As per the Tree Act, 1975, protection and preservation of all trees is the statutory duty of the tree authority. It is the BMC's responsibility. That is why tree cess is levied. Now it's the BMC's duty to protect and preserve trees in the city," said Zoru Bathena, an environmentalist.

Jitendra Pardeshi, superintendent of the Garden Department of the BMC was unavailable for comment.

Rs 14,067
Amount Mulund society has been asked to pay for trimming branches of a banyan tree