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Telangana HC halts cutting off trees at Kala Bhavan, following PIL

Acting CJ M.S. Ramachandra Rao asked these entities as to why they were not adhering to the state's flagship programme, Haritha Haram

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFS), the GHMC and the director of Ravindra Bharathi against cutting down of trees located in the premises of Kala Bhavan run by Ravindra Bharathi.

A division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao asked these entities as to why they were not adhering to the state’s flagship programme, Haritha Haram. “Your right-hand does not know what your left hand is doing. Should this be the way of functioning,” the bench asked them.

The bench was dealing with a PIL filed by Shiva Kumar, a resident in the vicinity. He brought to the notice of the court that fully grown trees in the premises of Kalabhavan, aged around 40 years or more, were being cut down. This is “even though they are not standing by the road, are not endangering any property or life and not causing any obstruction to traffic.”

He said that no permission was taken by Kalabhavan from the authorities to cut down the trees. “They must take permission from either the forest department or the GHMC, under the WALTA Act.” Some 50-feet-high, fully grown trees namely weeping Fig (Racemosa) and Malabar neem have already been chopped to an extent, the petitioner submitted before the court.

The court directed the authorities to stop chopping the branches and file a counter to the PIL.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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