BMC gets 145 tree-fall complaints in two weeks

With heavy rainfall over the past two weeks, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) disaster management department received 145 tree-fall complaints. The most complaints were received from the western suburbs where the rain took a toll on 72 trees.

With heavy rainfall over the past two weeks, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) disaster management department received 145 tree-fall complaints. The most complaints were received from the western suburbs where the rain took a toll on 72 trees.

While the BMC blames unprecedented rainfall that the city has received as a reason for the large number of tree falls, environmentalists have, for a long time, demanded a study to understand the reason behind such a huge number of incidents.(HT)

The department received 51 tree-fall complaints in the island city and 22 in the eastern suburbs.

Last week, the city received around 142mm rainfall between September 20 and 21, making it the highest average September rainfall since 2012.

The highest number of complaints were received on September 18 and 19 when 44 tree-fall incidents were reported. A sudden tree-fall can prove to be fatal for a citizen or a vehicle in the nearby area.

In July, a 45-year-old was killed after a tree crushed his running car in Malad.

While the BMC blames unprecedented rainfall that the city has received as a reason for the large number of tree falls, environmentalists have, for a long time, demanded a study to understand the reason behind such a huge number of incidents.

According to the 2008 census, there are 19.17 lakh trees in the city, the count also includes 33,000 dead trees, data reveals. BMC is currently under the process of conducting a new tree census.