Residents protest killing of seven Gulmohar trees

A group of 30 residents of Appasaheb Marathe Marg in Prabhadevi on Monday protested against the killing of trees in the area with acid.

Over the last one year, seven Gulmohar trees on the pavement in front of several high-end products showrooms and commercial institutions have been killed by removing the bark off their bottom and then pouring acid on their roots. Two 15-year-old Gulmohar trees were destroyed two months ago, the residents said.

“The killing of trees has been going on for over a year,” Ganesh Patil, a member of the JK Sports Club, said.

Seven trees lining the pavement in front of the JK Banquet, Lucas and Hyundai Motors showrooms were killed in the last one year, the residents said. Acid was poured on another tree on April 30, they said. Members of the club alleged that culprits were not being punished due to local authorities’ apathy.

“We had complained two months ago to the civic body, and the local corporator had come to check the trees,” Patil said. “The civic body cut down the dead trees and planted coconut trees in their place,” Parag Ajgaonkar, an NCP activist who participated in the protest, said. “But no action has been taken against the culprits.”

An application signed by 70 members of the JK Sports Club has been submitted to the ward office, seeking action against those killing the trees.

Residents are planning to file a complaint with the commissioner of police (Hasan Gafoor) and municipal commissioner (Jairaj Phatak), Ajgaonkar said.

G-South ward officer Shrikant Gatkari said a complaint will be filed with the police. “It will then be the police’s responsibility to arrest the culprits,” he said.