BMC Imposing ₹1.5 Lakh Penalty on Road Contractor for Tree Uprooting”

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been fined ₹1.5 lakh following the uprooting of a 25-year-old rain tree during excavation work for a stormwater drain project in JB Nagar, Andheri East. Initially slapped with a ₹50,000 penalty, the contractor’s fine was increased after relentless pursuit by an activist who engaged with the BMC over a period of six months.

A activist, advocating for stringent action against tree felling, highlighted the severity of the incident, emphasizing the need for legal repercussions as per cognisable offences laws. Despite activist efforts, no FIR has been lodged against the contractor, prompting concerns over regulatory enforcement.

The BMC’s intervention began in January 2024, approximately a month post the tree felling incident, with a formal notice addressing the contractor’s negligence during excavation activities. Citing insufficient precautionary measures around the tree trunk, the BMC initially imposed a ₹50,000 fine on the contractor.

However, the activist persistent engagement with BMC’s garden department in the K East ward resulted in the imposition of an additional ₹1 lakh penalty on the contractor. Threats of escalating the matter to the National Green Tribunal further pressured the BMC to reassess the severity of the contractor’s negligence. In a recent communication, the BMC reiterated concerns regarding the contractor’s failure to exercise due care during excavation, emphasizing the need for stricter adherence to environmental preservation protocols.

While acknowledging the case, an official from the garden department expressed the need for additional information before providing detailed commentary on the matter, underscoring the complexity and sensitivity of issues surrounding environmental conservation and regulatory compliance.