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ShareMumbai: According to a government resolution, tree cutting is an offence which is to be considered serious and the offender should be punished severely. But the Mumbai police does not seem to take it seriously. The civic body had filed 145 police complaints against illegal tree cutting in the city in 2008-2009 and surprisingly, only eight of them have been prosecuted.
The BMC's garden department files complaints against offenders who cut trees without proper permission from the BMC. The department has compiled a report which states that 145 complaints have been lodged in various police stations.
The maximum complaints, at least 66, are from the western suburbs. The eastern suburb has 33 complaints, while the South Mumbai has registered 46 complaints of illegal tree cutting.
The police stations inSouth Mumbai have taken cognizance of the cases and prosecution has taken place in eight cases.
In South Mumbai, out of the 46 complaints registered, the highest number i.e. 16 has been registered in the D ward (Nana Chowk, Malabar Hill, Kemps Corner). D ward is supposed to be a high profile area and has many nature lovers. Ironically, the report does not mention of a single tree being chopped illegally in the B and F-North wards i.e. at Mohammad Ali Road, Kalbadevi, Matunga and King's Circle.
"It is the responsibility of educational institutions to create awareness towards nature, especially trees," said environmentalist Girish Raut. "I was hurt to find that trees were mercilessly chopped or uprooted. The police normally do not take complaints of tree-cutting seriously since it is a bailable offence," he said. He advised civic officials to follow up such complaints with the police.
R L Wani, the civic garden superintendent said, "The number of prosecution is very low but it is the police's responsibility. The BMC will follow up with the cases in future."
A police officer at Gamdevi Police station stated, "Tree cutting is a non cognisable offence and the police cannot take direct action and arrest the offenders.
The police file the charge sheet directly in court and the court takes action against the person thereafter. The process may take some time and hence the prosecution gets delayed."
