Nature enthusiasts warns PCMC to stop massive illegal tree cutting
Akash Dhanurkar
We have all seen the ill effects of massive tree cutting that has taken place. It is contradictory to the statements made by the government which preaches and educates people to plant more trees to save earth from further devastation. But it seems the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has not learnt it yet. Infact it has been revealed that the civic body has been on a tree cutting spree.
As many as 50 – 100 complaints are being registered in the last three years with PCMC, yet there has not been even a single follow up by the civic body, alleged an umbrella body of nature enthusiasts. The group also complained that the rules and laws (Tree act) is hardly being followed while cutting a tree. In fact, there should be more awareness on growing trees than butchering them in the night, stated by one of the nature enthusiasts, Ravindra Sinha, in a press conference held on February at the PCMC building.
The press conference was organised to alert the citizens on the negligence of the civic body, who is suggested to be over looking the major harm to the nature. “Illegal tree cutting should be stopped. Rules and laws should be followed even when tree cutting is considered. We have submitted the our letter of concern to the PCMC Commissioner, Shravan Hardikar.” stated the group. Nature enthusiasts, Ravindra Sinha, Dhananjay Shedbale, Suryakant Muthiyan, Prashant Raul, Tanay Pathekar, and Rahul Gholap, were a part of the group present for the Press conference.
Ravindra Sinha, speaking on the behalf of the group, said, “The count of Illegal cutting of trees, or butchering them during night, has risen during the lockdown. The hoardings are being stuck on the trees, or more worse, trees are being butchered for the hoardings. We have submitted all the evidences regarding our concerns to the Tree department of PCMC, which has stood up with no response, or least, no single action against the illegal tree cutting. The trees are chopped down in the name of trimming the branches. While permitting to chop down a tree, the Tree department keeps violating the rules and laws under the Tree act.”
Prashant Raul, one of nature enthusiasts, while suggesting the importance of the trees in the city, said, “The name of the Pimpri Chinchwad is derived from the Pimpri, Chinch and Wad trees, which also explains the rich name of the city that is witnessing tree butchering, with only few areas with dense amount of trees remaining. We have wiped the tag of green city while walking on the path of smart city.”
