'PMC slow to react to illegal tree-cutting'

PUNE: Citizens and activists say that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) takes a long time to act against those who illegally cut trees and is lackadaisical in pursuing such cases. PMC officials, however, deny the allegation.
Alert citizens, who may have blown the whistle when they noticed illegal tree-cutting activities, feel let down when the offender is not brought to book.One such citizen is Sachin Desai. Desai is dismayed that the person who cut 10 full-grown trees in his neighbourhood on Paud road about a year ago, has not even had to pay a fine till now.
"I complained to the Pune Tree Authority (PTA) and they filed a case against this person last July, after finding out that required permissions were not sought. It has been nearly nine months since then, but the case has not even been heard in the court. If this is the way matters are handled by the PMC, how will people be discouraged from cutting trees illegally," Desai questions.
A PTA member said on the condition of anonymity that such delays are common place. "Sometimes it begins with not sending the notice to the offender on time. If such a person is found guilty, a case is filed, with or without the reply coming in. Once the case goes to the court, it is necessary for both parties to be present for the hearing. However, PMC officials often show a lackadaisical attitude and remain absent. The hearing keeps getting postponed and it takes nearly a year for the offender to actually face consequences of his action."
Tree activist Vinod Jain told TOI that the way prosecutions are carried out and cases pursued, one feels that the PMC is letting off offenders.
"The PMC should be quick to act against people cutting trees illegally. The delays are to the extent that nobody will be scared to cut trees in the city since there is no deterrent. On the one hand, the PMC is freely giving permissions for cutting trees and, on the other hand, illegal tree cutting is not discouraged. If the garden department continues this way, Pune will soon lose its tree cover," Jain added. Civic officials countered this by saying that they have to follow procedures, which can be time consuming.
Deputy commissioner Bhanudas Mane, in-charge of the garden department, denied that the PMC plays a part in delaying the action taken against offenders. "We follow the proper procedures as laid down by the law. It must be in very rare instances that our official may not be able to attend court, but we mostly pursue cases diligently. It takes time for the final result to follow through," Mane added.