A division bench of Justices Ajay Gadkari and Kamal Khata issued the directions while hearing petitions alleging that excessive use of cement and concrete around trees reduces their lifespan and increases the risk of trees falling.
The court directed officials from both municipal corporations, along with the petitioners and a panel of experts, to discuss the recommendations already submitted and work towards a practical solution. The meeting is to be held after the Ganesh festival, with the matter scheduled to come up again after four weeks.
The petitions were filed by Thane-based environmentalist Rohit Joshi, through advocate Ronita Bhattacharya, and Mumbai-based lawyer Sagar Ugale. The petitioners argued that adequate open space around trees is necessary to allow their roots to grow properly underground.
According to the petitioners, the lack of sufficient open space around tree bases, caused by cementing and concretisation, can weaken trees and contribute to their collapse.
The BMC, however, told the court that providing sufficient open space around every tree is not always feasible, particularly on Mumbai’s narrow and congested roads.
During the hearing, the petitioners informed the court that experts had been consulted on possible solutions. Both the BMC and TMC also indicated that they were receptive to recommendations previously submitted by the petitioners and were willing to consider their implementation.
Taking note of the submissions, the court called for a coordinated discussion between the civic bodies, petitioners and experts to work out measures to address the issue.
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