The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday informed the Bombay high court that various steps have been taken to save rain trees which are dying owing to mealy bug infection. Mealy bugs suck cell sap from leaves and inject poisonous saliva into them, thus killing trees. Eventually, the leaves and branches start falling off and the tree dries up.
The affidavit was filed by Superintendent of Garden and Tree Officer, Jitendra Pardeshi, on the directions of the court while hearing a PIL filed by Zoru Bhathena. The petitioner claimed that since 2010, mealy bugs have infected trees between Khar and Borivali and the BMC has been unable to identify the cause or cure, following which, 100 trees have died.
BMC counsel Trupti Puranik on Tuesday submitted the affidavit before a division bench headed by Justice V.M. Kanade which said that the BMC and Tree Authority are regulating, reviewing and executing every possible measure to preserve and protect existing green cover.
The affidavit further said that ladybird Beatle (natural predator of mealy bugs) is applied on infected trees. Bio-pesticides, neem liquid and other chemicals are also applied to check further loss of trees. However, the affidavit said that there are limitations in terms of applying chemicals on rain trees that surround human population so that no harm is caused to people. It added that steps have been taken including applying lime and geru to roadside trees, removing encroachments and planting new, tall trees every year.
