PCMC Permits Cutting Down Of 292 Trees In Bhosari MIDC; Tree Lovers Express Anger
Mrunal Jadhav
Bhosari, February 10, 2021: Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has permitted to cut down around 292 trees planted at Plot No. 37 in Bhosari MIDC. Of these, only 77 trees will be re-planted.
Environment activists and tree lovers allege that no rules were followed during the felling of the trees. They have expressed their anger against the cutting down of the trees and violation of the rules.
The MIDC had handed over the five-acre plot in Bhosari to the municipal corporation for tree plantation. The municipal corporation planted trees on the land in 1997.
Around 292 trees including Arjuna, Eucalyptus, Acacia, Pimpal, Neem, Hibiscus, Apta, Phulwanti, Baku, Pelta, and Okra were planted.
The MIDC has now sold the plot. Therefore, the landowner had sought permission from the municipal corporation to cut down the trees planted on the plot. The PCMC Garden Department has said that they have permitted to cut down the trees.
No rules have been followed while felling of trees as no notices were placed on the trees, no notice was given in the newspapers and no information was added on the official website of the municipal corporation, according to tree lovers in the city.
On February 8, the civic body allowed the felling of 292 trees. Of these, only 77 trees will be replanted on the side of the plot. Meanwhile, the authorities have also been cutting down trees for the past three days in Nigdi.
Around 31 trees of Arjun, 56 of Pentaforum, 3 trees of Eucalyptus, 4 of Indian rosewood, 4 of Acacia, 15 of Karanj, 11 trees of Thorn Acacia, 12 of Okra, 9 Neem trees, 2 Tamarind trees, 4 River Tamarind trees, 2 Sacred fig trees, 1 tree of Cassia, 1 Ficus and 25 completely dried trees, i.e. a total of 183 trees, have been allowed to be uprooted.
A total of 77 trees, including 9 trees of Plumeria, 16 of Bell, 25 trees of Cassia fistula, 3 of Bauhinia racemosa, 11 of Phulwanti, 2 Pelta trees, 4 of Baku trees, 4 of ladyfinger, and 2 of Bauhinia variegata will be replanted.
“The only reason to cut down the trees is getting money from the wood,” said tree lover Prashant Raul.
“If the civic body had received the plot on contract then why did they plant trees there? The permission process has not been completed as per the rules. The rules have been violated. No notice was placed on the trees. Also, around 183 trees are being uprooted and only 77 trees will be replanted. Why not all trees are replanted?” asked Raul.
“The administration is supporting deforestation which is very dangerous for the city’s environment,” he added.
Rahul Gholap of Nature King Mitra Jeevan organization said that Peepal, Hibiscus, and Okra trees can be replanted. “However, the municipal corporation has allowed the trees to be cut down completely. Some trees were cut down even before the permission was granted. Deforestation is being unforgivably ignored by the PCMC Garden Department.”
Garden Department Superintendent Prakash Gaikwad said, “The MIDC had given the plot to the municipal corporation for tree plantation. It has an area of five acres. The municipal corporation had planted the trees in 1997. The MIDC sold the plot. The landlord asked permission to cut down the trees.’
“All procedures have been done accordingly with permissions. Around 183 trees will be completely cut down and 77 trees will be replanted. Notices were posted outside, not on trees. It was advertised in the newspaper.”
When asked about the newspaper advertisement, Gaikwad said that he did not know in which newspaper the civic body had given the advertisement.
