The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will conduct a scientific risk assessment of Mumbai’s trees in June to gauge their health and consequently reduce the risk of falling and damaging property or even causing deaths.
The civic body has appointed a renowned arborist (also known as a ‘tree surgeon’) Vaibhav Raje for a pilot project in the city’s D Ward (Malabar Hill, Tardeo, and Gamdevi). Previously, tree management works such as the cutting of branches was assigned to contractors who had no expertise in the field. But the new appointment will look into more effective ways to curb the falling of trees and manage their growth.
Mumbaikars felt the impact of Cyclone Tauktae a couple of weeks ago with around 2,000 incidents of trees collapsing being reported. Data shows that no less than 40 people have died since 2012 due to tree-related accidents.
As for the aforementioned scientific risk assessments, officials will conduct a survey of the trees using a resistograph which is an instrument used to gauge the structural stability of trees while it can also ascertain stages of rot, decaying of wood, cracks, and hollow regions of the trees.
The pilot project in D Ward will take two weeks to complete after works start. It is said that around 100 to 150 trees in the ward will be covered by the survey.
“A visual survey does not allow you to gauge the health of trees. Once the arborist submits his report, we will get the trees trimmed accordingly,” Assistant Municipal Commissioner of D Ward, Prashant Gaikwad said.
Arborist Vaibhav Raje has prior experience surveying trees using a resistograph. He spoke about conducting a similar survey in Colaba last year. “Certain trees needed trimming to reduce the load and more space at the roots. These findings were based on resistograph tests done on the trunks,” he said.
Also read - BMC Urges Housing Societies To Bear The Cost Of Tree Pruning
He went on to say that the resistograph will not be used for all trees, adding “A detailed visual survey will be done first and only those trees which are found to be vulnerable will be studied further.”
Raje confirmed that the team hopes to conclude the survey in two weeks and submit a detailed report to the BMC for the next course of action. He mentioned how this could also save the city’s green cover, saying “If we give value to the trees, we can save green cover worth crores of rupees.”
Read - Mayor Kishori Pednekar Says Trees Should Not Be Planted On Footpaths
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