Civic body rejects PWD reply for tree cutting

  • | Wednesday | 19th September, 2018

The PWD authorities said they allowed the trees to be cut in light of permission given by the tree authority to carry out road-widening works on Paithan Road. He said the matter will be tabled before the next tree authority meeting.Patil added, “In our written reply to PWD, we have made it clear that action will be taken against them. However, it is clear that the latest tree cutting and road-widening has no relation, Patil said. “Such an act could set a wrong precedent and lead to indiscriminate felling of trees in the future,” he saidPWD authorities could not be reached for a comment. The action could either involve legal proceedings or criminal action in the form of a police complaint.”Environmentalist Kishor Pathak said an offence must be registered against PWD authorities for illegally meddling in the affairs of the tree authority.Another environmentalist Pankaj Shakkarwar said it was a serious offence for PWD authorities to infringe upon the rights of the competent AMC authority.

Aurangabad: Local civic body on Wednesday rejected an explanation furnished by the Public Works Department (PWD), for allegedly granting permission to fell two old banyan trees on Paithan road.As per rules, only the tree authority of local civic body has the right to take a call on matters related to permission of axing trees.After activists and citizens raised uproar over an alleged illegal tree cutting near Nakshatrawadi on Paithan Road on September 8, the city civic body shot off a show-cause notice to PWD authorities.AMC garden department superintendent Vijay Patil said that an explanation submitted by PWD authorities in response to the show-cause notice did not have any merit. The PWD authorities said they allowed the trees to be cut in light of permission given by the tree authority to carry out road-widening works on Paithan Road. However, it is clear that the latest tree cutting and road-widening has no relation, Patil said. He said the matter will be tabled before the next tree authority meeting.Patil added, “In our written reply to PWD, we have made it clear that action will be taken against them. The action could either involve legal proceedings or criminal action in the form of a police complaint.”Environmentalist Kishor Pathak said an offence must be registered against PWD authorities for illegally meddling in the affairs of the tree authority.Another environmentalist Pankaj Shakkarwar said it was a serious offence for PWD authorities to infringe upon the rights of the competent AMC authority. “Such an act could set a wrong precedent and lead to indiscriminate felling of trees in the future,” he saidPWD authorities could not be reached for a comment.

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