KOCHI: A section of Jawahar Nagar residential colony residents at Kadavanthra has come out against pruning of branches of four trees at Jawahar Nagar South Park situated off Subash Chandra Bose Road. The branches of the trees were cut down so badly that the park has lost all its green cover.According to residents, the trees were cut down as per the directive given by the committee members of the Jawahar Nagar Residents' association."But nobody from the colony was informed about the decision to chop off the whole green cover. The park looks very barren and in the evenings, we have to sit in the park bench without any shades," a resident said.Sunil Varghese, who works in an office in the area, said that he would file a complaint with the forest department regarding this issue.Meanwhile, the committee members from the residents' association denied these allegations."The decision was taken after a committee meeting and the trees were pruned as part of the beautification works," said the association secretary, T K Kurian.He added that the decision was taken following complaints from residents that branches of the trees were falling onto surrounding houses.He added that the park was owned by the residents' association and it is well within the association rights to take this decision.A section of residents pointed out that trees have been cut down along the sides of '4A Cross Road' in the colony. Around 10 trees along the road will be cut down as part of laying tiles on the road."The road constructions should be done in such a manner that there should be only minimal damage to the green cover and tree canopy," said environment monitoring forum member Ranjit Thampi.City mayor Soumini Jain, who is also the ward councillor of the area, said that many residents had raised complaints about the root of trees damaging pipeline connections to houses."The trees are not just being cut down for the construction of roads. Almost all the trees are situated right on the drainage canal and are obstructing the flow of drain. There are frequent complaints from residents about waterlogging during the rains," she said.

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