Condemning the illegal cutting of trees in the PCMC (Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation) area, several city-based NGOs returned their awards and accolades they received for their remarkable contribution to social work at the 36th Anniversary Celebration of PCMC on Monday.
NGO’s Angholichi Goli, Devrai Foundation, Vruksha Mitra, Human Society and Gacchivarit Mativirhit Bagh were among the NGOs who returned their accolades to Additional Commissioner of PCMC, Pravin Ashtikar on Tuesday, stating that the authorities have failed to stop illegal cutting of trees by unauthorized contractors in the area.
A ‘Rudali’ strike (wailing for trees) was also conducted in front of PCMC office, to mourn for the loss of trees.
‘Angholichi Goli’, NGO that headed the movement has been conducting ‘Nail free Tree’ and other campaigns along with city NGOs to safeguard trees in the twin city.
“We have observed that tree cutting in PCMC has increased. There is a private contractor in the area who have been ruthlessly cutting trees in several spots of the city and probably selling them” says Madhav Patil, convener, Angholichi Goli.
“The authorities have ordered their contractors to halt the cutting until further notice, yet, it is happening, which means they are aware that tree cutting is happening in the area, illegally.
When we try to stop them, a PCMC official intervenes in the matter, urging that the said contractor will be taken to the PCMC court and will be prosecuted there. However, there is no such court in PCMC.
Our representatives have gone to the local police multiple times on spotting illegal cutting in the area, but no strict actions are taken against them. We have also spoken to PCMC commissioner and additional commissioner to prosecute people who nail advertisements on the trees but all they did, was to give a public notice in a city-based newspaper about the act. Yet, not a single case has been registered till date in the last two months.
“Hence we decide to protest against all this and then return the certificates that were awarded to us on the 36th anniversary of PCMC.
Around 25 of us went to the additional commissioner who said that we cannot take any actions as there are no provisions under the law for direct prosecution. We however, showed him a reference PIL that they can file a case even if someone trims excessive branches to which he responded saying he would consider taking action.
Overall, I think they are indifferent to the need to save our trees in the city” adds Patil.
Prashant Raul of Vruksha Mitra said,” We are organising the Nail free campaign for the past 5 months and government on the other hand is cutting the trees illegally and excessively.”
He further added that PCMC seems to have a soft corner to the offenders who are violating the Tree Act. Not even a single FIR has been filed against them by the authorities. PCMC is rewarding the NGOs for their work regarding environmental conservation but it is important to also to take the culprits to task.
Additional commissioner of PCMC, Pravin Ashtikar however denied the allegations and said that they are taking every possible effort to save the trees in the area.
“It was their decision to return the certificates, but we have been taking actions since a long time.
“I believe that tree cutting should not happen in the city, for which we have instructed the agencies and officers to stop the cutting of tree without consulting the upper authorities. I have also informed the NGOs that multiple contractors have been fined and prosecuted under the Tree Act, for illegal cutting of trees.
“We try to be a 100 percent vigilant to avoid illegal felling of trees, but we also want NGOs like these to support us, so that the implementation is done properly.
The private contractor they have identified has already been fined twice with maximum penalty according to the law and will be prosecuted further if he is seen violating the law again.
He further states that the authorities are trying their best to curb the illegal cutting by providing maximum punishment, prosecution and action against the inspectors who may be involved in such activities.
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