Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a stop-work notice to the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) for allegedly violating conditions stipulated in the permission granted by the BMC’s garden department for the construction of a clubhouse. The action follows the discovery that two trees meant to be replanted and eight trees that were to be retained at the site were missing. Earlier, a non-cognisable (NC) complaint had also been registered against the club in connection with the missing trees.According to the garden department, the club had sought permission to remove 25 trees for the construction of the RWITC clubhouse. Accordingly, permission was granted for the felling and replanting of trees. Under the approved plan, 13 trees were permitted to be cut, 12 were to be replanted and 43 were to be retained at the same location. However, during an inspection of the site in Aug, civic officials said they found that eight of the 43 trees meant to be retained and two of the 12 trees meant to be replanted were missing. Besides, of the 1,232 new trees to be planted in lieu of the felled trees, only 550 have been planted so far.The garden department had earlier issued a notice to the RWITC, stating that the missing trees were within the area affected by the construction work being carried out by the club. Although the RWITC had submitted a reply to the notice, the department found its explanation unsatisfactory, following which an NC complaint was registered. “We are not aware of the notice, as our work is going on at the site. Some of the trees fell during the monsoon, and we have given an explanation to the civic body. Some officials may have decided to issue a stop-work notice, but our work is not affected,” said an RWITC official.“While the BMC has set a good precedent by issuing a stop-work notice, there are several other instances involving private builders who have violated the conditions for tree plantation and tree protection mandated by the Tree Authority in connection with large building projects and basement excavations. In certain cases, the excavation has been so extensive that even trees along public roads have died,” alleged former IPS officer and lawyer Y P Singh.
About The Author
