A private contractor and the garden in-charge of a chemical firm have been booked in Ulhasnagar
The police booked a chemical plant garden in-charge, Ravikumar and private contractor Avinash Dhawade, after a complaint filed by officers from Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC), for illegally chopping 30 healthy trees on the premises of Century Rayon in Shahad.
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Workers take a break after chopping a few trees. PIC/Navneet Barhate
The duo has been booked under the Maharashtra Felling of Trees (Regulation) Act, 1964 and the Maharashtra Protection and Preservation of Tree Act, 1975.
“After receiving information, Assistant Commissioner (ward no 1) Nandalal Samthani and clerk Haresh Damnani visited the spot on Sunday afternoon and discovered that 30 healthy trees had been chopped without seeking requisite permission.
The action was initiated based on the tip-off received by Municipal Commissioner Manohar Hire,” said Nitin Kapadnis, deputy municipal commissioner. He added that the equipment — axes and chain saws, among others — used for chopping the trees was confiscated and the cops were informed immediately. Senior Inspector Shakeel Shaikh from Ulhasnagar Police station said, “The plot where the trees were chopped belongs to Century Rayon. Inquiry revealed that though the firm had sought permission, the garden department was yet to respond to it. Meanwhile, the owner hired a private contractor to chop the trees. A case was registered against both of them on Monday.” Despite repeated attempts, Century Rayon PRO Anil Vyas remained unavailable for comment.