Thane civic chief asks officials to speed up tree de-concretisation drive

Concrete surrounding trees in Thane city will be removed as part of measures to preserve and extend their lives, a civic official said.

Thane civic commissioner Abhijit Bangar, who issued the order, has asked concerned departments to submit a compliance report to him by July 31, he added.

A Thane Municipal Corporation press release said the directive to “de-concretise” the trees is in keeping with orders from the Bombay High Court. As per the HC order, concrete must be removed from around the base of 7,396 trees planted along roads in Thane city, he said.

As per the commissioner’s directive, concrete chunks will be replaced with mud in a three feet by three area around the base of each tree, the official said.