BMC Pointed Out That The Tree Authority, Not Defence Ministry, Can Sanction Tree Felling In Mumbai

The civic administration has asked the Indian Navy if it had sought the approval of the BMC's Tree Authority before it uprooted a large number of trees on defence land, at INS Trata, in Worli.

- Linah Baliga

MUMBAI: The question has arisen in view of an allegation that the Navy has uprooted and cut around 100 trees on its land to build sailors' quarters.

The question was raised in a letter dated February 17, by assistant superintendent of gardens, G South Ward, to the Western Naval Command. It was based on a complaint by Advocate Y P Singh on January 31, a resident of the area, that 100 trees had been cut without the go-ahead of the Tree Authority. According to the Maharashtra (Urban Area) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975 permission must be sought from the BMC's Tree Authority for the felling of trees in Mumbai.

"In view of the above, you are hereby requested to inform this office if any such tree cutting/uprooting is done on referred plot within Navy jurisdiction and submit valid permission copy if received from Tree Authority to remove the trees," stated the BMC's letter.