The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) parks department is urgently seeking permission from the state forest department to cut down dead trees and prune dangerously leaning branches, citing the risk of uprooting during Norwesters. The request has gained urgency after a thunderstorm on May 29 claimed two lives in the city. The storm, which lasted an hour, toppled over 65 trees and damaged more than 50 others.
Survey Identifies Hazardous Trees
A survey conducted by the KMC in July last year identified approximately 150 trees that are dangerously leaning and pose a threat to pedestrians and vehicles. Ward-level audits have flagged these leaning trees along major stretches and neighborhoods, including Aurobindo Sarani, Bidhan Sarani, Vivekananda Road, Ripon Street, Bowbazar, Rashbehari Avenue, Harish Mukherjee Road, Chetla Central Road, Nimtolla Ghat Street, Lenin Sarani, Alipore, and Jadavpur. The species involved include mahogany, krishnachura, radhachura, aswattha, banyan, and kadam, with some trees believed to be nearly 100 years old.
KMC Awaits Forest Department Approval
“We have completed the first phase of the tree survey in selected wards. Based on the findings, we desperately need to cut dead trees and trim branches of leaning trees. We are awaiting the approval from the forest department to move forward,” a senior KMC parks department official said. Once approval is granted, the KMC plans to prune branches or fell dead trees. Officials cautioned that even if trunks do not collapse immediately, heavy falling branches can cause injuries and damage.
Treatment Measures for Trees with Structural Issues
For trees with structural problems, the KMC is considering treatment measures. “We will possibly trim the branches of the leaning trees from the side that is leaning. For trees with exposed roots, we will require to treat those and take appropriate steps,” the official added.
Expert Advice on Urban Tree Management
Naturalist Arjan Basu Roy emphasized that in urban management, sacrificing vulnerable trees that pose a threat to life and property is important. However, he cautioned that the activity must be conducted ward-wise with experts overseeing the process, not contractors. “What is most important is that tree loss has to be replaced by trees of at least 7-8 ft height, instead of saplings, so that they survive,” said Basu Roy. He also stressed the significance of selecting the right species for replanting.
The survey was ordered after fatalities were reported in Kolkata and Howrah in July 2025 when large trees collapsed during storms. The KMC continues to prioritize public safety while balancing the need for green cover in the city.
