John Deere Fined Rs 7 Lakh for Illegally Felling and Burying Trees in Pune
Pune, 20th September 2024: The Maharashtra State Forest Department has levied a ₹7 lakh fine on an international tractor and agri-equipment company for the failed translocation of 14 trees at its Sanaswadi facility. The notice, issued on September 14, comes under the provisions of the Maharashtra Tree Felling Act, 1965, imposing a penalty of ₹50,000 per tree.
The multinational corporation (MNC) has also been directed to compensate for the loss by planting twice the number of trees that were felled on the premises.
In June 2023, the company had received approval from the forest department to cut down 510 trees and translocate an additional 236 trees to facilitate its plant expansion. As part of this approval, the MNC submitted a bond to ensure compliance with the translocation process.
However, earlier this month, a complaint was lodged, accusing the company of failing to relocate 14 trees as required. Instead, the company was alleged to have illegally felled the trees and buried them under a tar road to conceal the violation.
Following the complaint, forest department officials visited the site on September 5 and uncovered the remains of 12 neem trees and 2 ficus trees buried beneath the tar. This discovery prompted immediate action, and the department issued two notices—on September 5 and September 9—to the company’s manager and three other employees, demanding an explanation for the violation.
Despite being presented with evidence, the company denied the allegations in both instances. “We found clear proof that the trees were buried under the tar road. Since the company continued to reject the claims, we proceeded with imposing the fine,” said Pratap Jagtap, the Range Forest Officer overseeing the case. “They have been given 15 days to pay the fine, failing which it will be officially recorded against their property.”
In addition to the fine, the Forest Department has launched an investigation into potential violations of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The trees in question were reported to be home to scheduled species, including owls.
