Mid-Day Impact | Mahim tree murder: BMC gets developer to remove rods piercing tree

On Friday, the rods piercing the tree were cut, but the scaffolding was left in place

The supporting iron rods at a construction site in Mahim, which caused damage and threatened the life of a 50-60 year-old peepal tree, were partially removed by the developer on Friday evening. The move followed yet another inspection at the site along Bhagoji Keer Road near Paradise Cinema by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials on Friday, after complaints from the residents of the area. However, the developer only cut portions of the rods passing through the tree, while the scaffolding and iron sheets still remain in place.

mid-day reported on Friday that the residents of Mahim had complained to BMC about damage to an old tree as iron rods were pushed right through its trunk. The BMC had issued a verbal warning to the developers on Thursday to remove the irregularities along the compound wall and the tree.

Metal rods seen piercing the peepal tree, on Thursday. Pics/By Special Arrangement

The issue came to light on Thursday morning, when residents of the area noticed that workers from the construction site had installed iron rods through a peepal tree. An NGO, the Bombay Indigenous People's Association (BIPA), from the area, complained to the BMC about the issue. Luke Mendez, a professor from St Xavier's College, founder of BIPA, and a resident of the area, confirmed that it was around a 15-metre-tall Peepal tree, easily 50-60 years old, towering over the rooftop terrace of a seven-storeyed building. Damaging trees is an offence under the Tree Act, 1972.

According to information received from officials, the civic body informed the Mumbai Police about the case on Friday.