BMC Follows Bombay HC Order, Begins To Remove Decorative Lights From Trees

The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to take down decorative lights from trees after many environmental activists and residents complained about their negative impacts on the trees and nocturnal animals.

19 April 2024

By Payoshi Bisht

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken an initiative to remove all decorative lights from the trees of the city. A few days ago, the Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra government and the municipal corporations of Thane,  Mumbai and Mira Bhayandar to take down all decorative lights wrapped around trees. These lights were put under the Beautification Project drive initiative taken up by the Chief Minister in December 2022. 

There hasn’t been an official notice circulated regarding the issue; nevertheless various organisations have taken up the task of removing all decorations and lights wrapped around various trees and branches present on roadsides. These lights and decorations are added to make the city look more beautiful during festivals or events. But lately, these decorations have been causing environmental damage. 

Environmentalists and residents have raised complaints with respect to these decorations, stating that they are hazardous to birds and other nocturnal animals who reside on trees. These lights disrupt the circadian rhythm of the trees and affect their ability to perform photosynthesis which is essential for their growth. Along with the issue of environmental damage, there has been a complaint about the amount of public funds being spent on the installation and maintenance of these decorative lights. 

Activist Rohit Manohar Joshi filed a public interest litigation (PIL) stating how these decorative lights affect the environment in a negative way, cause wastage of public funds and harm spaces where nocturnal animals reside. The Bombay HC asked the state government, BMC and the municipal corporations of Thane, Mumbai and Mira Bhayandar to reply to the PIL. 

This has caused the senior officials to take a step forward and remove all decorative lights from trees and branches around the city. According to the reports, around 24 wards have started acting upon the issue and removed the decorative lights from the trees in their areas.