The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation inquiry into a tree collapse in Chembur that killed a child held contractors responsible and cleared its garden and road department officials. It recommended adding a mandatory tree-root protection clause to all future tenders.
Urban forestry specialists contend that the findings ignore shared civic responsibility and that a uniform clause cannot adequately prevent further incidents.
On June 30, Vihaan Shrivastav died and other schoolchildren were hurt when a Peepal tree fell on a bus near Diamond Garden in Chembur West. The BMC then formed a panel that called for standard operating procedures on pruning, regular tree risk assessments and a GIS inventory of roadside trees.
B. N. Kumar of NatConnect Foundation stated that risk assessment must be ongoing and scientific, led by a senior officer reporting directly to the municipal commissioner. He added that the entire Mumbai region requires a GIS-based audit by certified arborists with top-level accountability.
The report to Commissioner Ashwini Bhide recommends appointing tree experts during pruning and road works, leaving a 3m by 3m open area around tree bases, and creating SOPs with consultant input.
Among 25 suggestions are planting native species, reducing excessive paving, maintaining permeable soil in root zones, and scientific pruning by certified staff. It also urges coordination among engineering, roads, storm water drain and garden departments under a nodal officer.
Half-yearly safety audits, public awareness campaigns and an app for reporting weak trees are proposed. The report suggests following a July 3 circular requiring 0.3m to 1m clearance around trunks during construction.
Environmentalist Stalin D. of Vanshakti called the clearance unscientific, warning it could destabilise trees by collecting water and loosening soil. He urged withdrawal of the circular.
The panel, comprising Purushottam Malvade, Shashank Bhore and Robert Fernandes, recommended fines of ₹5 lakh on Gawar Construction and ₹2 lakh on Mahimtura Consultants while finding no fault by BMC departments. Experts questioned the panel composition.
