Environmentalists have alleged that a private contractor in connivance with Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) officials, has felled nearly 60 trees at the proposed site for the local police commissionerate in Chinchwad.
Pimpri: Environmentalists have alleged that a private contractor in connivance with Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) officials, has felled nearly 60 trees at the proposed site for the local police commissionerate in Chinchwad.
The PCMC, however, said local municipal corporator Madhuri Kulkarni had sought pruning of tree branches which were likely to be obstacles for the immersion procession of Ganesh idols. Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar had given permission to prune these branches.
“However instead of pruning branches, the contractor felled trees,” Prakash Gaikwad, PCMC Garden Superintendent, said.
A group of environmentalists, led by Dr Sandip Baheti, Pradip Shaligram and Sandip Rangole, on Tuesday intercepted a truck which was carrying the felled trees. Baheti said the contractor and truck driver fled from the scene when they were asked to produce papers showing permission to fell the trees.
A group of environmentalists, led by Dr Sandip Baheti, Pradip Shaligram and Sandip Rangole, on Tuesday intercepted a truck which was carrying the felled trees. Baheti said the contractor and truck driver fled from the scene when they were asked to produce papers showing permission to fell the trees.
Baheti said the contractor had told local residents that the trees were being felled at Premlok Park and Indiranagar in view of the proposed police commissionerate at this site.
The activists rushed to Chinchwad police station to file a case in this connection but the police did not register an offence
in this regard.
in this regard.
Police Inspector (Crime) Vishwajit Khule said the police have no powers to take action in this case. “The PCMC Garden Department will register a case against the contractor before the municipal corporation’s court,” he said.
