Pune Institute booked for felling two trees

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) garden department has booked Pune-based Gokhale Institute of Political Science and Economics (GIPE) for allegedly felling two trees without
permission.

Additional municipal commissioner Naresh Zurmure told DNA that the institute had cut a neem and a gulmohar trees on the premises that houses the hostel and staff quarters of the institute situated on BMCC Road.

The institute’s registrar, Dr Nagarajan, refused to comment on the issue. “Following the reports, the assistant garden superintendent and other staff of the garden department had rushed to the spot. During the inspection, they found that an old neem and a gulmohar trees were felled,” said Zurmure.

According to him, no prior permission was taken by the institute.

“As per the recent high court (HC) verdict, prior permission is to be sought for felling of trees. The felling is carried out only after an expert committee submits its report to the HC. No such application was received by the garden department for felling in the area,” he said.

“The institute authorities feigned ignorance about the incident and tried to shrug off their responsibility,” he said.

The garden department has issued show cause notices to the principal, administrator and registrar of the institute.

“After scrutinising their answers, we will book them for violating the Maharashtra Tree Act, 1964,” he said.