Kudos to PMC for acting firmly to protect trees

Representation pic

Trees get their sen-trees as putting up an advertisement on a tree or stringing decorative lights around its trunk could now come at a high cost for Panvel residents, our report said.

The Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved a graded penalty system for those found damaging trees, with fines going up to Rs 5000 and a criminal case possible for a fourth offence.

A recent meeting of the civic body's Tree Authority Committee saw members approving a fine of Rs 1000 per tree for the first violation, Rs 3000 for the second, and R5000 for the third. Hammering nails into trees, putting up advertisements, and installing decorative lighting are among the violations covered by the decision.

A fourth offence can invite action under Section 21(1) of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975.

Trees need to be protected instead of acting like free makeshift billboard stands for people who are advertising different services. We have witnessed a number of trees with a metal plate hammered in. This plate/board, which is a mini hoarding, may be small in size but the nails to tack it on to the tree, drive a knife into a living thing. It advertises all kinds of classes, some services like house cleaning, decor etc or any other kind of product/facility.

The irony is that it advertises tuitions/classes in different streams, when they should be teaching youngsters not to harm trees. Even lighting on trees causes undeniable harm to our green sentinels, falling to the redevelopment axe so it is all the more important to protect and keep them in good health.