52 Trees Felled: AAP Seeks Criminal Action Against PCMC Officials, Builder
PIMPRI-CHINCHWAD : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has demanded immediate criminal action against officials of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and a private builder over the alleged illegal felling of 52 old trees near the civic body’s headquarters.
The trees were allegedly cut to facilitate construction of a project being developed by Sukhwani Associates Builders and Promoters, according to the party. AAP has alleged that officials from the PCMC Tree Conservation Department, including Mahesh Gargote and Rajesh Vasave, failed to properly protect the trees and allegedly facilitated their removal.
AAP Youth Wing state president Raviraj Kale submitted a representation to PCMC Additional Commissioner Kuldeep Jangam, seeking a detailed inquiry and strict action against those responsible.
According to the representation, the number and age of the trees were allegedly understated in official reports, which, the party claimed, resulted in permission being granted for their felling. AAP has alleged that the officials and the developer misrepresented facts before the Tree Authority and demanded that any construction permission granted on the basis of such information be reviewed and, if found irregular, stopped immediately.
The party has further demanded that the builder be directed to pay ₹1.52 crore towards the plantation of 1,018 trees, calculated at ₹15,000 per tree, and that criminal proceedings be initiated if violations are established.
AAP has also referred to a Bombay High Court ruling concerning illegal tree felling and argued that officials who grant permission without following mandatory procedures, including adequate public notice, can face criminal proceedings. The party has sought a departmental inquiry against officials accused of favouring the developer and demanded action under applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Corruption Act, wherever the investigation establishes violations.
Kale urged the municipal administration to treat the matter as an environmental issue of serious concern and conduct an impartial investigation. He warned that AAP would launch an agitation if action was not taken against those found responsible.
The allegations made by AAP are subject to verification through the relevant municipal records, tree-felling permissions and findings of any official inquiry.
