Amid its ongoing crackdown against worsening air quality, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has registered a complaint against a road contractor after a tree was removed illegally during road construction work at Bandra's Somnath Lane road on Monday. The contractor was executing a road work that was awarded to him by the civic body. The complaint was filed after a hue and cry was raised by local residents and activists against the illegal felling of the tree. Located on Somnath Lane Road, off Bandra's upscale Hill Road area, the 'fanas' tree was removed without seeking prior permission, according to civic officials. In its complaint lodged at Bandra police station, the BMC has called for an investigation into the illegal felling of the tree as well as further action against the road contractor citing the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975 which provides for the regulation of tree felling and plantation of adequate number of new trees in the state's urban areas. Speaking to The Indian Express, local resident Nolencia Pereira, who raised a complaint with the ward's garden department, said the road works had been in progress for the past one-and-a-half months. “Since the road cementing work had commenced, I had been inspecting the work regularly to ensure our area's rich green cover is not impacted. On Monday, a JCB arrived to carry out digging works and when I later went to the spot, I saw that they had removed the tree. When I asked them, they said the tree was removed as it was situated on a storm water drain, which is false.” Following the illegal removal, Pereira clicked pictures of the tree and raised a grievance with the civic officials on Monday, who then registered a complaint at Bandra police station. “As per a complaint received through phone on 20.11.2023 as well as during an inspection carried out at the place, it was found that during road works being carried out at Somnath Lane Road, the road contractor has removed the tree illegally,” read the civic complaint. Meanwhile, residents and activists said the police must now take further action. Taking to social media, activist Zoru Bathena wrote, “Thank You @mybmcwardHW for filing a police complaint against illegal cutting of the tree. Do hope @MumbaiPolice will take immediate action too.”
