Nagpur: Three ‘heritage’ trees trimmed for flag hoisting

NAGPUR: Three heritage trees were trimmed for flag hoisting on Republic Day, stated a complaint lodged at Sadar police station and Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) garden department.
On Monday afternoon, environment activist Sachin Khobragade spotted a few labourers cutting branches of fully-grown trees inside the premises of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) chief engineer’s office at Katol Road.
“I asked them if they had taken permission from the NMC’s garden department. When the labourers said no, I immediately reported the same to officials,” said Khobragade.
According to Khobragde, branches of four Ashoka trees were completely chopped off. “Out of these, three were heritage trees as they are easily above 50 years,” added the complainant.
As per the amended Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975, ‘heritage’ status has been accorded to more than 50-year-old trees. “To cut even branches, permission of the civic body is mandatory,” said Khobragade.
Officials of NMC’s garden department carried out a spot panchnama and have also filed a complaint against the chief engineer of MSEDCL. “Officials also went to Sadar police station to lodge a complaint. However, a first information report (FIR) is yet to be filed,” said sources.
Citing a similar incident, Khobragade stated that an FIR was recently filed at Pratap Nagar police station against felling of a tree inside a residential society. “When police officials of one station can file an FIR, why can’t their counter-parts do the same? Strict action is needed to avoid damage to green cover for such trivial reasons,” said Khobragade.
TOI could not contact the concerned police officials. Meanwhile, an MSEDCL spokesperson said that the pole of the flag was shifted. “We had allotted the work to a contractor and he cut some branches. When we enquired, he said that the action was done to avoid any damage to the flag. We are also aware that trees should not be cut without permission,” he added.