Thane: 45% of dangerous tree branch removal in the TMC area is complete

Every year, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) prunes dangerous branches of trees before the monsoon season. This year, the campaign to remove dangerous branches has been started two months ahead of schedule. So far, out of 6,367 trees, 2,753 have had their dangerous branches removed in this campaign. This rate is an average of 45 percent.

As per the directions of Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao, dangerous branches are being pruned from major roads, footpaths, public places, schools, hospitals, parks, squares, bus stops and residential areas in the municipal area. This pruning is being done from a technical perspective, keeping in mind the possibility of accidents due to contact between electric wires and tree branches during the rainy season. For this, a ward committee-wise survey has been conducted and dangerous branches of about 6,367 trees will be removed, informed Tree Officer Rajesh Sonawane.

The campaign is underway in the ward committee areas of Naupada-Kopri (35 percent), Uthalsar (40 percent), Lokmanya Nagar-Savarkar Nagar (42 percent), Wagle (35 percent), Majivada-Manpada (60 percent), Vartaknagar (48 percent), Kalwa (46 percent), Mumbra (63 percent) and Diva (24 percent). The overall average rate of removal of dangerous branches and reduction of excess foliage is 45 percent. Tree Officer Sonawane also said that the remaining work will be completed by the end of May.

To ensure that citizens get the maximum benefit of the shade of trees during the summer and to ensure that the natural growth of trees remains intact, dangerous branches are being pruned only where necessary. Also, former corporators and public representatives from all wards of Thane Municipal Corporation are being contacted regarding this campaign through the Tree Authority Department.In coordination with them, dangerous tree branches are being pruned where necessary. At the same time, the green waste generated by removing these branches is being collected and sent to the Thane Municipal Corporation's Green Waste Management Center at Kopri for the production of organic fertilizer using a scientific method.

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