Criminal case filed against Tata project and others for illegal felling of trees

Pune (Urban Transport News): Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has filed a criminal case against Tata Project and Deccan College for felling 32 fully grown trees without taking permission on the Yerwada campus between March and June this year. In last week Tree Authority of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) filed a criminal suit against the head of Deccan College and general manager of Tata Project for felling 32 fully grown trees on a casting yard in Deccan College’s Yerwada campus. This is another incident of illegal felling of trees during the construction of the Pune Metro rail project under the full supervision of Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MahaMetro). The contractor Tata Project was carrying out the construction on a casting yard in Deccan College’s Yerwada campus. The complaint was filed in Pune Municipal Corporation by a local activist, alleging that the Tata Project and Deccan College are uprooting the trees on the campus without any valid permission. Despite transplanting the fully grown trees, the contractor found involved in felling trees illegally. In the complaint, it has been mentioned that no new trees were planted either in lieu of cutting grown trees and all the trees were aged around 20-22 years. The criminal suit against the both authorities has been filed by Shashikant Vitthal Wable, assistant garden superintendent of Tree Authority under section 8 (1) of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975. The trees were cut on the campus by using electric axes without seeking proper permission from the tree authority. Rajesh Chive, the coordinating officer of Tree Authority, who visited the spot said,

We visited the spot and conducted the panchanama. We found 32 fully grown trees were hacked. We sent notices to the authorities concerned but did not receive a reply with any clarification from their end. After getting a go-ahead from higher authorities, we filed a criminal suit in the magistrate court.

A local citizen said that the Yerwada campus is known for its lush greenery but the authorities cut the trees recklessly. The actual number of trees felled is much more than what the authorities claimed. The Pune Metro rail authority obtained permission to cut the trees only after the deed was done but this indicates malpractice. The erring officers must be punished for the offense.