Even as the government has been relentlessly promoting greenery in order to preserve the environment, another government department appears to be working against it.
The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), Gurgaon, set aside the noble vision of the forest department and cut down a Peepal tree at Baktawar chowk, on the Sohna road extension, on Sunday.
The forest department, Gurgaon, however, is claimed to have challaned the contractor for cutting down the tree without prior permission from the forest department.
"We have challaned the contractor as we found him on the spot," said Devender Rao, range officer, Gurgaon. "He failed to show the permission. He has not yet revealed who sent him. We are inquiring into the matter," said the official.
"We have also booked the contractor. We will take action once we get to know who hired the contractor."
"The contractor acted in haste. The process for permission was under process," said Aman Kumar, SDO, HUDA.