City trees to be free from concrete, paver blocks from October

Mumbai: Trees in the city will now be free of layers of concrete and paver blocks around their base. On the back of increasing incidents of tree fall, the BMC has decided to remove the cover of concrete and paver blocks around the base of trees and replace it with soil to enhance their life. The project will be implemented from October.

Experts have attributed the rising incidents of tree fall to weakening of the tree base by laying concrete and paver blocks around it. In a bid to conserve and strengthen trees, the BMC has decided to free their base of concrete and paver blocks, and increase soil cover near their roots instead.

According to civic data, there are 2,975,000 trees in the city, of which, 185,000 trees line city roads. Many of these trees are believed to have been weakened by concretisation, asphalting and paver blocks around their base. In addition to this, digging works carried out for laying storm water drains, water mains and sewage lines have resulted in displacement of underground roots.

A senior civic official said, “As part of the project, the area around the tree roots will be cleaned and beautified. From October, the concrete layer around all trees will be removed, and it will be covered up with soil. This will prevent erosion of soil around the tree base, and help water reach the roots easily.”

Directions have been issued to the garden department to study how much area around the trees needs to be opened up and filled with soil. Accordingly, a policy will be formulated about the area that needs to be opened up around the trees and beautified,
said the senior civic official.