Over 60 trees were illegally cut down from the central divider of Andheri Link Road to provide a clear view of commercial hoardings, allegedly benefiting a private firm. Despite BMC filing two formal complaints and submitting evidence to the police, no FIR has been registered even after eight months. According to the BMC, the trees were cut without permission. Photographic evidence, including images of the truck allegedly used in the activity, was handed over to the Amboli police station, yet no action has been taken to date. Remaining now are just stumps, barely 1.5 to 2 feet tall.

With the trees gone, activists fear reckless crossing of the road by pedestrians, which otherwise was not possible. Pic/Nimesh Dave

Filmmaker and activist Ashoke Pandit, who first raised the issue with authorities, said, “This is nothing short of daylight robbery, it’s breaking the confidence of the people. The BMC has itself filed the complaint and even submitted solid proof, including pictures of the truck used. If everything is in place, what is the reason behind the delay in police action?” Captain Rakesh Coelho, trustee of the Oshiwara Lokhandwala Citizens Foundation, said, “The trees were hacked down, not trimmed. They won’t grow back again. It’s as if there’s a steel ball chained to the administration’s leg; what is stopping them from filing an FIR?”