Hyderabad: The story published in Deccan Chronicle on the cutting of trees on the morning of November 3 by a car showroom which chopped the trees on the pavement for a better public view of their showroom, led zonal commissioner, GHMC, Musharraf Faruqui, IAS, himself, along with his officers, to inspect the site at Valley View Layout on Road number 12, Banjara Hills.
The commissioner transferred this case to the forest department, which also reached the spot on the call of the GHMC, as this case falls under the Forest Protection Act and Environmental Protection Act.
The cutting of trees or branches without the permission of the concerned authorities is a grievous offence as per the Forest Protection Act and Environmental Protection Act. According to these acts, the cutting of branches or trees, uprooting of trees are all punishable offences. They are fined heavily and forest officials have the authority to arrest the law- breakers by themselves and send them to prison.
The zonal commissioner assured those present that the culprits in this case will be fined not less than Rs 1 lakh.
