Notice issued to MCD over felling of trees in Vasant Kunj

Residents of Vasant Kunj Block C are up in arms against MCD officials for allegedly cutting trees illegally.

Although permission was only given for pruning, the crowns of some trees have been chopped off entirely, according to a complaint lodged at the Vasant Kunj police station. Taking cognisance of the violation, the Forest Department has decided to issue a notice to the MCD.

Sonya Ghosh, a resident of Pocket 1, filed an FIR at the Vasant Kunj police station on February 24. "The concerned person supervising the pruning showed me the permission letter from the Forest Department to cut only 20 per cent of the total tree girth. But here entire trees have been chopped off or heavily pruned, which is illegal. I will soon be moving court to appeal for full investigation into the matter."

"Permission for cutting three trees and light pruning of rest of the trees was given. No permission for heavy pruning was given for the other trees, which were reportedly chopped off," said Keshav Kumar, Deputy Conservator of Forest (West).

Ghosh also said that "the permission was granted on September 29, 2011, and as per the Forest Department's rules, the process of cutting or pruning has to be carried out within one month from the date on the letter." In this case, pruning was done in February instead of being completed in December, she added.

Yogender Mann, the MCD spokesperson, told Newsline, "Most of the time, it is not possible to follow the time limit because of procedural delay."

However, the Deputy Conservator of Forest said, "I don't think we have given permission for chopping of any trees and can give information about it only after looking up the files concerned. But if the time period has been exceeded, then it is illegal to cut those trees."

... contd.

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