BMC and Navi Mumbai Clash Over Whether Road Concretisation Causes Trees to Fall
A major disagreement has emerged between the civic bodies of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai over the primary cause of tree collapses this monsoon. While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has blamed stormy weather, an expert panel advising the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) pointed to road concretisation as the main culprit. The debate follows a series of collapses in July, including a tragic incident in Chembur where an 11-year-old child was killed by a falling tree.
On Friday, Mantayya Swami, the BMC Chief Engineer for Roads and Traffic, stated that experts advised the corporation that completely concretising the base of a fully grown tree does not pose a risk of it falling. Swami argued that mature trees continue to grow despite concrete around them, making it incorrect to attribute tree falls to the city's road concretisation drive.
In contrast, the expert panel advising the NMMC held a diametrically opposite view during a special meeting convened on Friday. The panel categorically cited concretisation as the primary reason for excessive tree collapses in July. They noted that more than 90 percent of tree collapses occurred along roads and within housing societies where excessive concretisation leaves little room for root growth. By comparison, tree collapses were negligible in gaothan and slum areas where concretisation is limited.
Arborist Dr. Nagesh Tekale challenged the BMC's stance, questioning how water could percolate to roots if a tree's base is completely concretised, which directly affects its strength and stability.
Swami also admitted to shortcomings in maintenance, noting that pruning is usually carried out only on the side of the tree facing the road. This unscientific pruning results in an uneven canopy and makes trees more vulnerable to wind stress.
According to BMC data, 902 trees were uprooted and 1,251 branches crashed across Mumbai from the onset of the monsoon until July 17. An additional eight instances were reported between Friday and Saturday morning.
