MUMBAI: The Bombay high court has asked Tata Power Company, Railways to state within one week that what procedure they followed before cutting branches of trees in their premises in Mumbai.
A bench of Justices A.S. Oka and R.I. Chagla was hearing an application filed by city-based activist Zoru Bathena, challenging Brihan-mumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) decision to allow some public and private agencies like Tata Power, Reliance energy, Railways and Airport Authority of India (AAI) to trim trees on their premises for the next three years.
On Wednesday, Tata and Railways informed the court that only the branches that touched high-tension wires, were cut. However, the court said that who is taking the decision on the size and number of branches that need to be cut. BMC laws say that it can give permission to private entities to cut dead trees and dangerous branches.
The court further said that there should be a mechanism to take decision after considering all the aspects. Cutting branches of trees is equal to felling trees, the bench added.
