Mahim residents have complained to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) about personnel from a construction site ramming iron rods into the trunks of nine old but healthy trees near Paradise Cinema on Bhagoji Keer Road. In response to the complaints, officials from the civic body’s G North ward inspected the site on Thursday morning and issued a warning to the developer to remove the rods.
The issue
On Wednesday night, residents of the area noticed workers installing steel sheets around a construction site and informed them not to damage trees surrounding the compound wall of the plot, noticing that the rods holding up the sheets would pass through the trees. However, on Thursday morning, it was noticed that a peepal tree on the periphery of the plot was affected due to the work. A non-governmental organisation (NGO) named Bombay Indigenous People’s Association (BIPA) from the area complained to the BMC about the issue.
Residents have decided to file a complaint against those responsible with the Mumbai Police under the Tree Act, 1972; the spot where the peepal trees were damaged, around Mahim’s Paradise Cinema. Pics/By Special Arrangement
Residents speak
Luke Mendes, founder of the NGO and a professor at St Xavier’s College, who resides in the area, said, “The Paradise Cinema site is undergoing redevelopment, and sheets are being installed around the periphery of the site. Metal rods that support the sheets run right through a tree. We are afraid this will damage it in the long run. Past experiences have shown us that these events are planned to eventually get rid of these trees.”
“This is a 15-foot-tall peepal tree, easily 50 to 60 years old. It towers over the rooftop terrace of a six-storey building,” Mendes added. Residents have decided to file a complaint with the Mumbai Police under the Tree Act, 1972.
“There are several other old trees in the compound, and this issue will persist if the BMC does not act in time,” Mendes added.
Authorities speak
After complaints from residents of the area, the civic body’s gardens department inspected the property on Thursday morning and issued a warning to the developer to remove the scaffolding.
A senior civic official of the G North ward, with jurisdiction over the area, said, “We received complaints on Wednesday night and Thursday morning from several residents of the area. The scaffolding is being installed by the developer as part of prep work for demolition and reconstruction of an existing building on this plot.”
After inspection of the site, BMC issued a warning to remove the scaffolding by Friday morning. The official said, “We will inspect the site again on Friday. If the scaffolding is not removed, we will serve a notice to the developer, as damaging trees during construction work is not prohibited.”
Dec 17
Day civic first received complaints
Dec 18
Day civic officials inspected site
