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Jawaharbagh pays price, 2,500 trees missing
LUCKNOW: Horticulture department officials have found 2,500 trees missing from Mathura’ s Jawahar Bagh which was illegally occupied by self-styled cult leader Rambriksh
LUCKNOW: Horticulture department officials have found 2,500 trees missing from Mathura’ s Jawahar Bagh which was illegally occupied by self-styled cult leader Rambriksh Yadav and hundreds of his followers.
The 270-acre park used to have 10,000 trees before Yadav and his brigade made it their home. The encroachers cut down the trees for bonfire and cooking purposes while many other trees were gutted in fire after an encounter with the police three days ago.
During their stay, Yadav’s followers sold fruits before they were finally forced out on Thursday.
“As many as 2,500 trees and plants are missing from the JawaharbaghPark,” said SP Joshi, director, horticulture.
“We will appoint a committee to estimate the losses.”
He said the new trees will be planted soon.
The local officials have, however, pegged the initial losses at Rs 50 lakh. “The encroachers did not allow us to auction fruits and this alone caused us a loss of around Rs 25 lakh ,” said Mukesh Kumar, district horticulture officer, Mathura.
