To cut approval delays: Mumbai civic body allows 9 agencies to trim trees without its permission

In a first, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to allow nine agencies, including two private firms, to trim trees without its permission. It believes that the move will prevent tree fall incidents by cutting approval delays.

These agencies are involved in providing basic amenities such as water supply, electricity and transport services.

The agencies include two private firms — Tata Power and Reliance Energy. The rest are government agencies: the Central Railway, Western Railway, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited, Mumbai Monorail authority, Airport authority and Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB).

The permission to trim trees has been given for a period of next three years, a civic official said. The BMC officials claimed that owing to delays in giving permissions, tree fall incidents put many lives in danger during rains. Therefore, it has decided to waive off the approval requirement, to cut unhealthy branches of trees.

Of the 29.75 lakh trees in the city, 15.63 lakh are in private compounds and 11.25 on government premises. The rest are on roadside, and in gardens and parks.

“The nine agencies can carry out necessary trimming on the condition that green waste is disposed of; photographs of the trees before and after trimming are sent to concerned officers; the civic body is informed beforehand; and trees are not damaged without a reason,” said a BMC official. Jitendra Pardeshi, superintendent of the garden department, said these agencies have the permission to trim trees only in public areas, near high-tension wires, power cables and railway tracks. Only BEST had this blanket permission, which has been extended to the other agencies.

“The organisations will also have to send a report of the work to the BMC every three months. This measure has been taken to avoid any delays in giving permissions for trimming.” he added.