PMC starts scrutiny of Tree Authority applications

PUNE: The process for selection of the seven subject experts for Pune Municipal Corporation's Tree Authority has begun.
The civic officials have constituted a three-member scrutiny committee, which will commence its work next week.
The members are to be chosen from non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
"The Tree Authority applications will now be scrutinized by a team of three officials, one from the social forestry department, and the others from city-based colleges.They will verify the applicants who meet the norms, and the final seven members will be selected from among them," a tree officer told TOI.
"There is no clarity from the state government on a condition which states registration with the social forestry department is a must for a candidate's eligibility. So we consider all 77 applications irrespective of this particular compliance," the officer added.
He said the process will take a month. The Tree Authority must be constituted before July 26, a deadline set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The previous committee's term ended in March.
77 applications
A PMC tree officer said they have received 77 applications from NGOs and experts till May 3. Of these, 23 were registered with the social forestry department. The other 54 would be disqualified if registration with social forestry department is considered a norm.