BMP begins pruning branches of trees

BMP begins pruning branches of trees

The Hindu

Old trees and those located close to public property where crowds gather will get priority

# A student died when the branch of a tree fell on her on Maharani College campus
# BMP's Horticulture Department has identified trees that are old and may have weak branches

Bangalore: After a student was killed when the branch of a tree fell on her on the Maharani College campus, the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has started pruning branches on a systematic basis.

Priority will be given to old trees and those located close to public property where crowds gather. A tree or a branch falling on a crowd can cause a fatal accident or serious injuries. As happened the day after the student's death. A 40-year-old worker, hired to prune branches of other trees on the college campus fell down, apparently when a branch collapsed and died of head injuries.

Even before the second accident, the BMP's Horticulture Department started surveying the college campus that has scores of old trees. This was following a request from the university authorities. The survey identified several trees, estimated to be 60 or more years old, and which may have weak branches.

Regarding the complaint of the Maharani College authorities that the BMP was not regularly pruning trees on the campus, officials of the civic body said they had received no request in this regard from the college. Going strictly by the law, the BMP was not responsible for trees growing on the premises of public institutions or on private land, the officials said. However, trees or branches even within private properties or public institutions could be cut down, if they posed a danger to life or adjoining properties.

The owners of such properties or authorities of institutions should identify the trees and seek permission from the BMP to cut them.

Permission could also be obtained from the Forest Department's Urban Division. Laws stipulate that no tree can be cut down or pruned drastically without getting official permission.