Mumbai: Give us sops to trim our own trees, demand residents

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sent notices to 4,622 societies and government and private entities stating that trees on their premises must be trimmed before the monsoon. But activists and residents have sought concessions in tree-trimming charges from the civic body. Though the demand has been longstanding, the corporation does not have a policy about supporting citizens' efforts to plant and care for trees on their premises.

According to the tree census conducted in 2017, there are approximately 29.75 lakh trees in the area under the municipal corporation's jurisdiction. Out of these, 15.63 lakh are on the premises of private institutions while 11.25 lakh stand around government buildings and establishments.

About 11.25 lakh trees stand around government buildings and establishments. Representation Pic/Ashish Raje

An official from the garden department of the BMC said, "Taking care of trees in housing societies, government, semi-government organisations, private places, etc, is the responsibility of the respective owner or user. The corporation has issued 4,622 notices for trimming and balancing trees to private and government land owners/users till last week."

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Siddharth Pardhe, a committee member of Sahitya Sahwas Society in Bandra, said, "Every year, we spend around Rs 40,000 to 50,000 on the trimming of trees. The BMC sends some contractors and we have to pay them in cash. The BMC should arrive at some solution as trees not only help the people in their immediate surroundings but also the entire city. If the BMC has the power to deny permission to individuals to cut any tree, it has to take responsibility to trim them."

He added that residents of many housing societies refrain from planting trees as small societies do not want to take on the financial burden of trimming them. "This will ultimately affect the environment," he said.

Prasad Pendse, secretary of Vijay Nagar Society in Andheri said, "We have around 100 trees on our premises and pay a hefty amount to get them trimmed. How can we expect any help from the BMC in connection with pruning trees if they don't give us any concession in property tax despite taking efforts with regard to solid waste management for years? When visitors arrive in the city, BMC officials show them our project and pretend it is their own. We also love our city and don't have issues.

But despite tall promises, the civic body still hasn't started giving tax concessions. So it is hard to believe that they will consider any subsidy for trimming trees, which are important for the environment.

A BMC official stated that if the trees are to be pruned by a contractor appointed by the municipal corporation, the entire process is likely to be completed within seven days. The fee charged by the contractor for tree trimming depends on the type and size of the tree, among other factors.

Zoru Bhathena, an activist, said, "The BMC, through its tree authority, is responsible for the maintenance of every single tree in Mumbai. The BMC collects a tree cess, which is included in property tax, from every single property irrespective of whether or not it has trees. So, it is the corporation's duty and we don't have to allow it to shirk its statutory responsibility to maintain trees on private as well as public lots."

Asif Zakaria, a former corporator from Bandra, said, "There isn't any BMC policy under which a subsidy can be given to private owners for trimming trees. Many corporators fought for free tree trimming in housing societies as it will ensure scientific trimming and safety. There were long discussions in the general meetings also, but the administration did not move an inch. The issue has to be resolved by considering the people's sentiments."

2017
Year last tree census was held

29,75,000
No. of trees on area under BMC jurisdiction