Hostel axes two trees; AMC seizes vehicle, mulls heavy fines

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has come down heavily against the alleged illegal axing of two 100-year-old trees on the Shrimali Soni Chhatralaya hostel premises located on HL Commerce College Road in Navrangpura.

The civic body’s parks and gardens department has seized one vehicle from the spot and is contemplating heavy penalties against the hostel management after local residents filed a complaint that two old trees — a neem and a peepal — had been cut down, and more trees were on the line.On Tuesday, photographs showing the illegal cutting of the trees on the hostel plot went viral on social media. Locals alleged that the two trees were adjacent to the boundary wall inside the hostel compound, and were cut down without permission. Locals gathered at the spot to prevent the felling of other trees and later lodged a complaint with AMC. A C Patel, director, parks and gardens department said, “A heavy penalty will be imposed for the illegal cutting of the trees.

One vehicle has been seized from the spot, and strict action will be taken against those responsible.”