Tree committee convenes first meeting since the Covid lockdown

MUMBAI: The first meeting of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) tree committee, since lockdown began in midmarch, was convened on Wednesday. Held via video conferencing, the committee passed a bunch of proposals to cut 403 trees and transplant 579 more, for projects related to work of the bridges department, fire brigade department, and police housing.

Members referred back a few proposals, including three to cut 72 trees and transplant 121 others for railway projects, citing that they were brought without organising a site inspection for members of the committee.

Abhijit Samant from the BJP, who is a member of the tree committee, said, “We do not want to set a wrong precedent for these kinds of decisions.” Committee members were also irked as technicalities were not followed. Samant said, “The municipal commissioner, who chairs these meetings, did not adjourn it. Since this was his first tree committee meeting since he took charge, it is the job of the municipal secretary to point out procedures to him.”