The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) today appealed to the citizens to hire a contractor appointed by the body for the purpose of pruning trees and branches that may put their safety at risk in monsoon season.
In a press statement issued to the media, MCGM said that in the monsoon season, housing societies and colonies in Mumbai should refrain from using private contractors to trim or chop down such trees and branches.
"Under the Tree Authority Act of 1975, it is the responsibility of MCGM to look after the preservation and cultivation of trees in Mumbai. In the coming monsoon season, the MCGM will especially give priority to chopping and segregating unwanted branches of trees that may pose a hazard to pedestrians and vehicles on the streets," the release said.
According to the MCCGM, due to unavailability of technology in the previous years, there was an impression that the cutting and restructuring of hazardous trees by the MCGM was not upto the mark.
It is for this reason, that the MCGM has hired contractors in the monsoon season, to curb tree falling incidents.
Among the priorities listed by the MCGM for the monsoon season, the MCGM has said that it will make sure that dead trees are uprooted, trees that pose a hazard to life and property will be chopped down, unstable trees will be straightened, while trees that have fallen will be dismantled without any delay.
On receiving a request to hire contractors appointed by the MCGM, concerned authorities will immediately inspect the concerned tree and then take suitable action, added the release.
