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Mohali : The unpruned trees in Mohali City have become a headache for the residents as the streetlights stay hidden and dim under them, which results in low visibility, especially during the night hours.
It was found that as the civic body Mohali has failed to trim/ prune the overgrown trees of many Phases and Sectors in Mohali for a long time, the streetlights installed at main roads and in the internal residential areas of Mohali serve no purpose as the lighting is either dim or hidden during the night. Overgrown trees in Mohali are as tall as three-story buildings or even taller than that too had also blocked sunlight and the branches also got entangled in cables.
Currently, MC Mohali has three machines for pruning overgrown trees.
Notably, the overgrown trees have remained a major issue of Mohali for the past many years. The civic body often remains neck-deep in complaints about the overgrown trees.
Earlier, in 2018, the then Punjab Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu handed over a cheque amounting to Rs. 36 lakhs from his discretionary fund to then Joint Commissioner Municipal Corporation Kanu Thind, for procurement of modern pruning machines to be deployed for cutting and even pruning of trees on the pattern of Chandigarh and Delhi. Despite receiving grants for modern pruning machines, the civil body has failed to resolve the long-term problem of the city residents added.
Mohali residents have complained that the civic body lacks accurate data on the number of dead, hollow, and hazardous trees in the city.
Residents added : Mohali city is grappling with a threat posed by neglected and unchecked trees within its jurisdiction but unfortunately Mohali Municipal Corporation has lackadaisical approach in addressing the issue which is looming danger for residents. It has been seen in the past that MC Officials only springs into action when a tree collapses, causing damage to property and posing a risk to the public.
Former MC BB Mynee pointed out that the MC’s has been negligent in addressing the issue of dangerous trees for the past few years and demanded the issue should be resolved and MC teams must come in action as per the provisions of the law to ensure safety of Mohali residents.
Gurmukh Singh Sohal former MC said there is a urgent need to trim/prune trees near electricity poles as due to tall trees adjoining to the poles and above 11KVA electric wire are the main reason for frequent electric cuts in Mohali.
Dy Mayor Mohali Kuljeet Bedi acknowledged the issue and said the corporation has initiated an exercise to identify such overgrown and dangerous trees and pruning will be started after obtaining the necessary permissions soon safety of life and property of Mohali residents.
Davinder Walia MC said we are trying to get the pruning of trees executed at regular intervals and will start the process once the weather conditions improves as while tree pruning, electricity supply has to be stopped and it is bit hard in summer season so once when the climatic condition improves it will be done.
