“Cement is being poured on the roots of the roots, which will claim their lives in the coming days. No norms are being followed. While the BMC makes sure that natural trees die, it uses plastic ones to decorate the streets. It is a sheer waste of taxpayers’ money,” he added.

Trees along the Western Express Highway near the Government Colony junction in Bandra East

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Along the Western Express Highway, near the Government Colony junction and the Bandra court, debris can be seen at the base of trees. “The National Green Tribunal (NGT), in 2015, ordered the civic authority to keep a one-metre area from the tree trunk concrete-free,” said Stalin Dayanand, director of the NGO Vanashakti.

The order came in the wake of a complaint by Vanashakti that concreting around critical root zones of trees was one the reasons for the death of rain trees. “Still, the roots and trunks of trees are being damaged by concreting. This is not only in Dahisar and Bandra but also at various places in the city. Due to this, several trees are going to fall during the monsoon,” Stalin stated.

Zoru Bhathena, another activist, said, “The BMC published a circular to prevent concreting around trees. This circular was published in 2018 but the civic body is not following its own directions.” Deputy Municipal Commissioner Ulhas Mahale did not respond messages from mid-day till press time.

2018
Year the civic body issued circular on concreting