Don't cut trees on Holi: Cops

With the festival of Holi fast approaching, the police have issued a circular stating that anyone caught felling trees or cutting branches for the bonfire, on the eve of the festival, will be fined or arrested.

In a circular issued on March 11, Sadanand Date, joint commissioner of police (Law and order), stated that people should keep in mind that felling or cutting of trees has been banned by the civic authority.

According to the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975, you have to take prior permission from the civic body's Tree Authority to fell or cut any tree or its branches. The violation of the Act is a punishable offence, and you could be fined anything between Rs1,000 and Rs5,000 and be imprisoned for up to a week.

Besides the police, NGOs  will also patrol in the city to nab those hacking trees.

@dayanand_kamath