Trees are being hacked to create parking space: locals

If the allegations levelled by some residents are to be believed, the easy permissions granted by ward officials to prune dangerous trees during the monsoon are being misused by some to get rid of trees to create additional parking space or put up hoardings.

If the allegations levelled by some residents are to be believed, the easy permissions granted by ward officials to prune dangerous trees during the monsoon are being misused by some to get rid of trees to create additional parking space or put up hoardings.

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A case in point could be Everard Nagar Cooperative Housing Society in Sion. “Some members from our society managed to get 51 trees hacked within five days. The branches of the remaining trees, too, were recklessly trimmed, affecting its overall balance,” said a resident, requesting anonymity. Some residents from the society have written to civic officials, including the civic chief and superintendent of gardens, to take note of the issue.

Admitting that the nexus between influential residents and local ward officials was becoming a cause for concern, Suhas Karwande, deputy municipal commissioner (gardens), said, “The system to seek permissions was decentralised taking the safety of the public into account. But, people are misusing it. The junior tree officers are expected to survey the spot in their ward before granting permission. Cutting healthy trees is a criminal offence.”

Similar incidents have been reported in the western suburbs, too. “Residents come up with flimsy excuses such as presence of worms, mess and bird droppings to get the trees inside their compounds pruned. In most cases, the motive is to get rid of trees for personal reasons,” said James John, Andheri resident and coordinator of NGO, Action for good Governance and Networking in India.