"Pruned trees stump Gurgaon"

The Forest department has accused a private developer of severely pruning hundreds of trees in Sushant Lok and Palam Vihar.

The department has filed a complaint against Ansal properties for not taking its permission and violating General Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act, which prohibits cutting of trees in Gurgaon without permission.

But Ansal Properties claimed they had just “pruned the trees” to prevent short circuits in electricity transmission lines. ”We pruned trees which covered transmission lines. The trees disturbed electricity cables and caused frequent short circuits and caused frequent short circuits and break-downs,” said N.K.Sehgal, president of Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Ltd.

However, Vivek Kamboj, president of an NGO called Haryali, alleged trees were being harmed to benefit realtors whose properties in Sushant Lok I and Palam Vihar are shadowed by trees.

Haryali has registered a complaint against the developer with the deputy commissioner, senior superintendent of police and forest department.

“I noticed on September 28 that trees all over the colony had only trunks left. If transmission lines are the only reason then thousands of trees all over the colony had only trunks left. If transmission lines are the only reason then thousands of trees in these two colonies should be axed. Most green belts in the city have electric poles,” said Kamboj.

Forest department officials said the NGO had complained to them and the area’s range officer had taken note of the incident. A forest department officials said: “The officer has found that most of the trees have been lopped, not pruned. It’s an illegal act. The developer should have informed our department first.”