Environmental activists have come out strongly against the “illegal” felling of trees near the camp office of the Ernakulam District Collector.
“The decision to remove the trees was taken without consulting the Tree Committee in the city,” said Jacob Lazar, a member of the committee, which has to clear any such move.
“Before considering requests for felling trees, committee members personally inspect them. Such inspections are carried out within two to three days of receiving the application, while no such application is pending before the committee for the Kochi Corporation area,” he added.
No request
Officials of the State Forest Department also confirmed that no request was received for cutting the tree.
The Collector can decide to remove a tree without seeking clearance from the committee only when he is convinced that the tree poses threat to life and property and also by invoking the provisions of the Disaster Management Act. However, in the present case, the Forest Department has received no such information, and it might have been the decision of the District Collector that prevailed, said the official who wished not to be quoted.
According to Mr. Lazar, there has been pressure from the authorities to fell a few trees in the city including the one near the Town Hall. “The committee had turned down the request, as the tree did not pose threat to life and property. Also, it did not hamper vehicular movement,” he said.
Tree poses danger
On another application, the committee found that the tree near the Indian Coffee House building near the High Court posed danger, as its roots had been decayed. Permission was given for axing that tree, he said.
S. Sitaraman, another environmental activist, protested against the indiscriminate felling of trees in the city. The tendency to axe trees bypassing the Tree Committee should be prevented, he said.
