Unpruned tree falls, injures 2 in Santa Cruz

Mumbai: Two persons were injured after branches of an unpruned nilgiri tree, planted inside the compound of a housing society in Santa Cruz, fell into a lane outside on Saturday.      The incident occurred opposite Shabari Hotel near the station. The tree was planted inside the compound of Ratnavalli housing society.      The injured, Ruchi Shah (25) and Keshav Bhattawala (43), were rushed to hospitals. Shah was admitted to Asha Parekh hospital while Bhattawala was taken to Cooper hospital by the fire brigade.      Dr Sulbha Chirmule, chief medical officer, said, "Bhattawala ended up with injuries on his ankle and neck. He also sustained a fracture."      Shah escaped with minor injuries on the lower portion of her right limb. She was discharged from Asha Parekh hospital's casualty emergency ward and is currently on antibiotics.      "It was the duty of the housing society's members to prune the tree before the monsoon. The nilgiri tree doesn't take much time to grow," said an on-duty fire official. "None of the society members could be contacted."      There was outrage following the death of 24-year-old Andheri resident Ashwini Satpute in June after a 15-metre peepal tree fell on her near Peninsula Park in Lower Parel. While the civic body has been insisting that it will not be held responsible for any deaths or injuries caused by tree collapses in housing societies and private compunds, residents claim there is a lot to be desired when it comes to getting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s permission to trim trees.      Environmentalists said the BMC's Tree Authority takes at least 90 days to grant permission to housing societies for pre-monsoon treetrimming and cutting.  GREEN TROUBLE  July | Branches of trees fall in two places—Dadar's Hindu Colony and St Martin's Road, Bandra. In both cases, the trees are located on private premises  June 28 | Lower Parel. MBA aspirant Ashwini Satpute (24) killed June 5 |King's Circle. Biker Santosh Chikane injured  Aug 25, 2011 | Versova. Milestone Capital CEO Ved Prakash Arya killed  July 18 | Nariman Point. Manisha Bhansali (25) and 6-month-old Arvi die The tree was planted inside a housing society and its branches fell onto the lane outside