Shelar orders FIR over illegal pruning of 63 trees in Andheri

Shelar Orders FIR Against 63 Trees Pruned Illegally in Andheri

Shelar orders FIR over illegal pruning – During a meeting at the Mumbai Suburban collector’s office, local BJP corporator Rupesh Sawarkar highlighted the unauthorized trimming of 63 trees at Chitrakut Ground in Andheri West, prompting State cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar to direct the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and police to initiate a formal complaint. The incident, which occurred last year, involved a hoarding contractor and a land lessee who reportedly pruned the trees without permission, citing visibility issues for their installations.

Complaints Ignored Despite Repeated Reports

Sawarkar claimed that civic authorities had failed to respond to multiple grievances regarding the pruning of trees along Link Road. The contractor and lessee, he alleged, had removed the foliage without prior approval, disrupting the natural landscape and raising concerns about environmental impact.

Shelar’s office stated that BMC officials had confirmed the pruning during the meeting and noted that a preliminary complaint was filed with the relevant ward office and Amboli police. However, Sawarkar emphasized that no official FIR had been registered yet, despite the prolonged neglect of the issue.

“The entities responsible have not only engaged in illegal activities but also withheld the land earmarked for a fire station from the government,” Sawarkar stated, criticizing the lack of enforcement action.

Reacting to the situation, Shelar instructed the BMC and police to take immediate steps and register an FIR against those accountable for the unauthorized tree trimming. The directive underscores the minister’s commitment to addressing environmental violations in the area.