The organisation has also demanded action against the people, they alleged were trying to kill the trees by pouring acid into its roots. Vasundhara said that according to the State Government Panchayat and Health department resolution (SMC-1075-5909-P), the cutting of trees is illegal and a criminal activity and steps should be taken to check such practices.

Jitendra Daliya, vice-president of Vasundhara, on Wednesday said that the organisation had noticed trees around Vanita Vishram were cut off because they obstructed the hoardings set up along Ring Road and Athwa Gate. ``It was at around this time last year that trees were cut around Majura Gate, Income Tax office, Ram Chowk, Boys Observation Home and Parle Point areas,'' Daliya alleged. Daliya added that Vasundhara office bearers had personally taken the Garden Department officials including the Superintendent to the places where the trees had been cut down and asked them to take appropriate action.

``Last year too, Vasundhara had written letters to officials concerned on October 16, December 1 and December 7,'' Daliya stated.

He added that now when the SMC is coming out with slogans like Sunder Surat, Hariyalu Surat (beautiful Surat, green Surat), acts like cutting down trees was not acceptable, at least not for commercial purposes.

Vasundhara expressed regret that although it had lodged a police complaint to this effect last year and also informed the civic body of this practice, no action of any kind had been taken so far.