BMC issues notices for pre-monsoon trimming of 7,978 trees on private premises in Mumbai

Mumbai: The BMC has issued notices for the trimming of 7,978 trees located within private premises. "Trees in private premises need to be trimmed by the respective owners," said a civic official.According to BMC data, of the total of 59,720 trees identified for pruning, 26,572 trees have already been trimmed across the city.As per the last tree census, Mumbai has 1,90,296 roadside trees. Of these, 313 were flagged during the survey for requiring immediate attention due to safety or health concerns.Civic officials said the large-scale trimming exercise is aimed at preventing tree-related incidents, especially during the monsoon months, when weakened branches and unstable trees pose a heightened risk to life and property.The last tree census was conducted in 2018 and recorded a total of 29.75 lakh trees within Mumbai's city limits, with the figure rising to around 33.7 lakh when Aarey was included.Recently to streamline both tree pruning and enumeration that will begin shortly in the city, the BMC held a training workshop at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden and Zoo in Byculla. Officials and experts were trained in scientific pruning techniques, tree health assessment, and the use of modern tools, including drones, for accurate data collection. Civic officials said the combined exercise is also aimed at generating updated data to guide Mumbai's urban planning and green cover conservation.