AMC chops branch of 70-year-old tree, locals cry 'murder'

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on Sunday chopped off several branches of a 70-year-old banyan tree that was coming in the way of a road widening project.

The civic body said it had chopped off only one branch.

Incidentally, the civic body had earlier following protests from residents had promised that it would transplant the tree but not cut it.

The 70-year-old tree is home to several hundreds of Parakeets.

"AMC workers came and chopped off several branches of the tree around six in the morning today. Apparently, they had a permission to 'trim' the tree, but they ended up chopping its branches," said Kirtan Jani, a resident, who is also the Bodakdev Ward President of the Congress.

Jani said the villagers got to know of the AMC's subterfuge and soon gathered to chase away the AMC officials.

"The thing is that they want to build a stage for the 'bhoomi pujan' of the road widening. The bhoomi puja is done when a new project is started, this is just an extension. They chopped the tree so that they could build a stage," alleged Jani.

AMC officials, however, rubbished the allegations.

"We have cut only one branch of the tree that was at a height of 2.5 metres. The branch was at such a height that a bus could not pass under it. The tree will be accommodated in the new plan," said Jignesh Patel, director parks and gardens.