Thane: Housing society chops trees, displacing and killing birds

The young ones of a cormorant that died due to displacement

A housing society's managing committee in Thane has invited the ire of an NGO working for wildlife welfare, for chopping a number of trees on its premises and displacing and killing some birds. The Thane-based NGO RAWW has alleged that due to the tree-cutting activity at Vijay Nagri Society, Kasarvadavli, some birds were displaced, nests damaged and young birds orphaned.

The president of NGO RAWW has written a letter to the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Thane Territorial Wing of the Maharashtra Forest Department, alleging that the activity has led to the violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, in a housing society. The NGO contacted the forest department and not the municipal corporation because the matter pertains to birds.

The housing society's management in Thane had got a number of trees cut on its premises

Angered by the activity, some residents of the building got in touch with the NGO and reported the injured birds. NGO RAWW founder and president Pawan Sharma told mid-day, "Our team rescued four young ones of a cormorant, which is a protected species listed in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Out of the four, three birds died on October 10 due to starvation and dehydration caused because of displacement from the nest and separation from parents. This act of tree-cutting without evaluation of wildlife living on it has clearly reflected on the irresponsible and illegal aspects which amount to a violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972."

"Irresponsible tree-cutting is emerging as a very serious issue which has to be addressed as soon as possible. I request the forest department to take immediate action on this matter and issue a notice to the society and the tree-cutting authority and further book an offense against the concerned person(s)," added Sharma.

Talking to mid-day on Friday, Range Forest Officer, Thane Forest Department (Territorial) Narendra Muthe said, "We have received the complaint letter from RAWW and tomorrow our team will visit the spot to carry out an inspection and a report will be submitted to senior officers post which we will decide the further course of action."

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