New policy on tree pruning soon, says civic chief

While promising compensation to the two victims of the tree falling incidents in the city, Municipal Commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya also said the civic body will be overhauling its tree-pruning mechanism.

While promising compensation to the two victims of the tree falling incidents in the city, Municipal Commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya also said the civic body will be overhauling its tree-pruning mechanism.

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“We realised there are genuine issues to be sorted out, like inadequate equipment for trimming trees, unscientific way of inspecting trees, and a lack of skilled manpower. We will table a new policy on tree pruning before the Tree Authority, which will improve on all these aspects.”

Kshatriya said owners of private properties will be held responsible if falling branches of trees growing inside their compound walls injured citizens.

Activist Nayana Kathpalia welcomed Kshatriya’s announcement and said: “While the civic body should ensure no such incident repeats, it’s a good initiative by the body to follow a Supreme Court order to compensate victims of civic neglect.”