Corporators demand compensation for injured victims

Mumbai: Corporators in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have demanded that the civic body compensate for medical treatment of persons injured in tree collapse incidents. They also demanded that accountability be fixed on civic officials for such mishaps.

In separate tree falling incidents, a 14-year-old girl died in Dahisar while a 20-year-old girl in Dadar sustained severe injuries. Raising the issue in the civic standing committee on Monday, Shiv Sena group leader Vishakha Raut said, “In the Dadar mishap, the girl has been admitted to a hospital and the cost of her treatment is huge. Who is going to compensate for it? The BMC should reimburse the cost of her treatment.”

Ms Raut’s demand was supported by corporators of other parties, too. Opposition leader Ravi Raja from the Congress said that the civic administration was responsible for loss of lives and property due to tree collapse incidents. He suggested that the BMC appoint a senior-level botanist in every zone to survey trees and act accordingly.

Congress corporator Asif Zakeria from Bandra said that with incidents of tree collapse on the rise, the BMC should start fixing accountability on civic officials. “Due to lack of proper supervision, the trunks of trees are turning hollow and weak, increasing the chances of their collapse. The BMC should take action against officials of the garden department for not carrying out tree-trimming properly,” he said.