Ravi Raja of the Congress writes to BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal about rampant tree hacking in the Sion Koliwada area

Ravi Raja, the head of the Congress Group in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has addressed BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, alleging widespread tree cutting in the Sion Koliwada area. Raja stated in his letter that he represents the 'F' Northward, which includes the redeveloped Sion Koliwada hamlet and Sardar Nagar. On March 21, 2021, the BMC Tree Authority approved the removal of 22 trees out of 69 in the area for reconstruction. The Authority also ordered the removal of 36 trees and the replanting of 11 trees in the region.

He said that all of the trees had been chopped and that no replanting had taken place. It amounts to an obvious violation of the Tree Authority's order, he claims. There was no need to kill trees for reconstruction, according to Raja. Despite this, trees in the area were hacked down. He demanded that the violators be prosecuted. "Volunteers from a non-profit organisation had called to inquire if I had permitted to take down the trees. Following that, I went to the location and discovered uncontrolled tree chopping "Raja stated.

"Because the Commissioner is the Chairman of the Tree Committee, I alerted him via my letter. I'll also write to Aditya Thackeray, the state's environment minister, about this "Raja said. He also questioned whether the episode was the result of corruption.

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