Mumbai Mayor rejects BMC's Chembur tree collapse report, seeks action against civic officials

The school bus that was damaged in the tree collapse on 11th Road in Chembur East on June 30. PIC/SARTHAK MEHTA

A day after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) concluded its inquiry into the Chembur tree collapse and gave a clean chit to the entire administration, holding the contractor and consultant responsible for the mishap, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde said she rejected the findings, calling the report "unacceptable".

Tawde demanded that BMC's roads and gardens department must be held responsible for the negligence. Making a statement on Tuesday morning, Tawde said a mere penalty of Rs 7 lakh imposed on those deemed to be at fault was no justice for the death of a child.

Vihaan Shrivastava, the 11-year-old who lost his life

The two-member inquiry committee was constituted by civic chief Ashwini Bhide to investigate the collapse of a 60-year old peepal tree in Chembur on June 30 on a school bus carrying 13 children, which killed 11-year-old Vihaan Shrivastava. Late on Monday night, the BMC published its inquiry committee report, recommending a Rs 5 lakh penalty on contractor Gawar Construction Limited and a Rs 2 lakh penalty on consultant Mahimtura Consultants.

According to the report, both agencies may not have taken adequate precautions while carrying out stormwater drain work near the tree.

‘Strict action is required'

A day after the incident, the BMC had suspended three civic officials on the basis of prima facie evidence for negligence - an assistant superintendent of the garden and tree department and a sub engineer and an assistant engineer of the roads department.

Ritu Tawde, mayor of Mumbai. Pic/X/@TawdeRitu

Mayor said…

The report was not acceptable to her, and that the roads and garden department must also be held responsible for negligence. A mere payment of R7 lakh will not give justice to the child's family.

Report slammed

The Leader of Opposition in the BMC House, Kishori Pednekar, said on Tuesday, "The civic committee's report is an eyewash. It indicates that the BJP has no control over the administration. Strict action should be taken against those responsible for the incident."

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