Mumbai civic body’s 15 proposals to cut trees rejected by the tree authority

The high court on Tuesday rapped the civic body for sending multiple tree-cutting proposals in to ease the process of obtaining the approval.

The tree authority on Thursday refused to allow the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to cut trees until it complies with a Bombay high court (HC) order. It said it did not consider BMC’s 15 proposals over cutting of trees.

The proposals are likely to be taken up within 21 days at the next tree authority meeting. (HT file photo)

According to an amendment made last year to the Maharashra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, the municipal commissioner has special powers to decide on proposals seeking permission to fell 25 or fewer trees. The high court on Tuesday rapped the civic body for sending multiple tree-cutting proposals in to ease the process of obtaining the approval.

Kaptan Malik, a councillor from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), said, “We will not pass the proposals until the municipal commissioner adheres to the court order.”

The proposals are likely to be taken up within 21 days at the next tree authority meeting.

Leader of the House Yashwant Jadhav from the Shiv Sena said the proposals to cut at least 3,000 trees were placed before the tree authority. “We have demanded an inspection and a report on the trees cut since the amendment.” Civic chief Ajoy Mehta was unavailable for comment.

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