Despite the Bombay High Court order prohibiting using trees for commercial or decorative purposes, blatant violations are occurring across the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) area. From banners and lighting fixtures to nails and wires hammered into tree trunks, these acts are not only illegal but also environmentally destructive — yet municipal enforcement remains lacklustre.
Rules ignored, roads encroached
On busy roads such as the Phadke Road, hawkers are seen using roadside trees to hang clothes using ropes and nails. On Tilak Road, near Brahman Sabha, a local Chinese food stall has adorned trees with lighting, while nearby hardware shops have followed suit. None of these installations have been authorised by the KDMC.
These activities violate the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act and, more critically, defy the high court ruling that bans any damage or modification to public trees, including affixing objects or lighting. However, violations continue unchecked in the absence of routine monitoring or strict penalties.
Municipal departments like the garden department and encroachment department appear reactive rather than proactive — only initiating action when complaints are filed. Mahesh Deshpande from the KDMC’s garden department admitted that while such activities are banned, enforcement is slow. “Often the contact numbers given on the banners are fake. The process involves issuing a notice first, and then imposing a fine — it’s not quick,” he said.
Politics adds to the problem
Rupali Shaiwale from Paryavaran Dakshata Mandal; Surekha Joshi from environmentalist; Activist Anil Mokal from Swachh Dombivli Abhiyan
Political parties further exacerbate the issue. Before and after rallies or events, city streets are filled with banners and posters — many of which remain long after the event is over. These displays are often put up without permission from KDMC and are rarely removed promptly. The selective enforcement, especially when it comes to political actors, reflects a worrying double standard.
Environmentalists sound alarm
Environmental advocates are deeply concerned about the growing trend of using trees for decorative lighting during festivals. Rohit Joshi, an environmentalist from Thane, emphasised, “According to the law, harming a tree in any way is akin to killing it. It is a punishable offence. As per the HC order, local municipal corporations are duty-bound to take strict action against offenders.”
Rohit Joshi, environmentalist
Rupali Shaiwale from Paryavaran Dakshata Mandal, Dombivli, explained the ecological dangers: “Lighting on trees disrupts their growth, damages their bark, and harms the birds and insects that inhabit them. The intense LED lights disturb their natural biological cycles. The biodiversity that depends on these trees is being destroyed in the name of aesthetics.”
Surekha Joshi, another environmentalist, remarked, “As festival season begins, trees are the first to suffer. Nails are hammered into them, lighting is strung along branches, and their natural structure is damaged. Due to concrete layering around the base, water no longer reaches the roots, weakening them. Trees are collapsing during monsoons because of this neglect. The court has issued clear orders, yet authorities continue to turn a blind eye.”
Activist Anil Mokal from Swachh Dombivli Abhiyan and Vivekanand Seva Mandal called the situation “deeply frustrating” and urged municipal officials to stop dragging their feet. “If we’re serious about being a smart city, we must first be a green city,” he said.
Call for urgent, uniform action
Currently, the responsibility for addressing these issues lies with KDMC’s encroachment department, which is expected to escalate such matters to assistant commissioners and department heads. However, delays and lack of coordination have resulted in weak enforcement. Civic activists and citizens alike are calling for stricter penalties, real-time monitoring, and a robust mechanism to deter repeat offenders.
