Buddha concern notwithstanding,trees continue to be felled in city

In both cases,the Parks and Squares Department of KMC had lodged a complaint with the respective police stations. Till date,three persons have been arrested for cutting trees near the Lake police station. Investigations have revealed that earlier also,the accused were involved in the felling of 11 trees.

“After the incident in which 11 trees were cut,we kept a strict vigil in the area. We arrested the three persons while they were cutting another tree in the area,” said officer-in-charge Debashis Baidya of the Lake police station.

“Initial investigation revealed that the persons were working for an advertising agency,” he added.

“Two middlemen were acting as the link between the agency and the wood-cutters. Though we are yet to arrest the middlemen,we have filed chargesheets against those arrested,” Baidya said.

Recently,portions of two trees were chopped off near the Tollygunge auto stand as they were obstructing the hoarding of an advertisement agency.

The advertisement department of the KMC sent a showcause notice to the agency. Later,the civic body withdrew its case after a meeting between agency representatives and Faiaz Ahmed Khan,MMiC for parks and squares.

According to an official in the civic body,another advertising agency has also been sent a showcause notice recently. Two more proposals for cutting trees in Esplanade and Sarat Bose Road were pending with the civic body,said another official.