Nagpur: It’s been more than four days since the city last witnessed heavy rain and strong winds leading to the falling of several trees. However, many of the fallen trees are still lying unattended on roadsides and footpaths. These tree branches are creating a major inconvenience to motorists as well as pedestrians.
Heavy rain and strong winds had lashed the city on Saturday and Sunday, because of which trees crashed in different areas, mainly in internal lanes.Fallen trees completely blocked roads, and damaged electricity wires, leading to power cuts. The fire department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) responded to the emergency calls of citizens and removed the trees.
But TOI on Wednesday and Thursday found branches of several fallen tree lying unattended on roadsides and footpaths on Wardha Road, Narendra Nagar, the lane beside Chandrapur-Wardha Bus stop near Chhatrapati Square, the road towards FCI Godown, South Ambazari Road and near Rahate Colony.
Sources said whenever a tree crash is reported, the fire department personnel clear the road and leave the tree branches and other material on the roadside. The NMC garden department is supposed to remove the tree branches and other waste from these areas. “NMC has appointed multiple contractors for the job and the garden department is supposed to oversee the work. However, rarely fallen trees are lifted,” said the sources.
Garden superintendent Amol Chorpagar said contractors are appointed zone-wise and the civic bodies pay them around ₹15 to ₹20 lakh every year for clearing the tree branches. “We lift bushes and branches from the roadside after receiving specific complaints. We will now also approach the fire department so that fallen trees can be removed,” he said.
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