Tree fall incidents: HC seeks affidavits from BMC, TMC on steps taken for de-concretisation of spaces around trees

After the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation told the Bombay High Court that over 23,400 trees on public places have been de-concretised, the court recently sought a detailed affidavit from the municipal commissioner with details of measures which may have been taken by now and also the proposed measures for de-concretising spaces around the trees.

A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif S Doctor was on Tuesday hearing a PIL by activist Rohit Manohar Joshi and others seeking de-concretisation around the roots/bases of trees in Mumbai and Thane raising concerns over deaths due to tree falling.

The bench also sought details from BMC and Thane Municipal Corporation on tree stumps to create aeration at private institutions, co-operative housing societies and public places. It also asked the civic bodies to enumerate in what manner the duties of Tree Authorities under the Trees Act have been fulfilled.