Mumbai’s tree count rises by 20% over past one year: Report

MUMBAI: The number of trees in the city has increased by 20% from last year, revealed figures from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Environment Status

MUMBAI: The number of trees in the city has increased by 20% from last year, revealed figures from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Environment Status Report (ESR) 2015-16. According to the report, which is yet to be released publically, the city now has 29,89,654 trees as compared to 24,11,508 trees counted in ESR 2014-15.

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The report states that N ward, which comprises Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Pant Nagar and Vidyavihar, accounted for the most number of trees at 2,86,894, while C ward, which comprises Marine Lines and Kalbadevi, accounted for the least number of trees at 5,756.

However, the BMC’s garden department officials said that the final figures will be out once they complete the count for four of the 24 civic wards. “While these figures in the ESR report are from April 2015 to March 2016 there has been an increase of another 5,000 trees from five more wards,” said Jitendra Pardeshi, superintendent of gardens.

“Owing to the monsoon, the tree census was put on hold, but it will resume soon. The census is likely to be completed by the end of this year,” said Pardeshi.

According to the report, the main reason for the rise in the number of trees is the large sapling plantation drives held at Aarey Milk Colony, Goregaon, which was not included in last year’s report, as the area was considered as private land open to development. However, after NGO Vanashakti filed a petition at the National Green Tribunal, Pune, last year demanding that Aarey be made forest land, the area was included as a part of the tree census this year.

“Over the past two years, various plantation drives were carried out on open plots and hills under our jurisdiction. Also, by next year, we plan to plant around 1 lakh trees along roads and other areas under our jurisdiction,” said Pardeshi.

According to the ESR report, 16,336 trees were planted on city roads and open spaces over the past year.

“Some of the work carried out by the garden department includes concrete, asphalt, tar and cement removed from around 27,385 trees, spraying insecticide and pesticide on infected trees, trimming 7,754 trees’ branches to balance trees, forming tree basins around trees and removing 392 dead and dangerous trees,” read the report.