Though BMC is now pointing towards changes in criteria to select expert on Tree Authority, it has earlier appointed experts under the same, blames the ex-member of Tree Authority. On the other side, BMC officers are discussing with legal experts about the validity of the next meeting slated for October 29.
According to the law, Tree Authority meeting takes place in every 21 days and in every meeting, there are on an average 800 to 1,000 tree cutting and transplantation proposals. Most trees identified for cutting or transplantation are for various infrastructure projects. Tree Authority consisted of 13 corporators, chairman of Garden committee and Municipal Commissioner. From February 2017 BMC hasn’t appointed tree expert in this committee sighting changes as per 2009 . But ex-members are blaming the civic body.
“The officer with BMC have pointed out some changes in Tree Act, 1975 last year. Those changes were there for several years but now suddenly they made it compulsory. Why does the person who has this much of knowledge want to come authority to just blame them on tree cutting?” Asked Abjijit Chawan, Ex- Tree Authority member.
Niranjan Shetty, ex-Tree Authority member from 2007 to 2017, told DNA, “All the decision taken by this Authority in last one and half year has to be cancelled.” He further added, “BMC is only interested in cutting trees.”