PUNE: The chopping of 16 trees on the SP College campus, which will host Prime Minister

’s rally on Thursday, has triggered controversy.

The opposition parties have condemned the act and demanded action, but the BJP denied having anything to do with it and said the college administration took permission and cut the trees.

The stumps of the chopped trees

AAP’s city unit chief and Shivajinagar candidate Mukund Kirdat said a criminal offence must be registered in this regard. “When a regular citizen cuts a tree, criminal cases are registered. When administration intervenes in such matters, it makes sure that action is taken in a technically correct manner as far as paperwork is concerned. But completing technical formalities doesn’t right the wrong,” Kirdat said, alleging that politicians and civic officials were hand-in-glove in the matter.

Nationalist Congress Party has condemned the tree-cutting. “The party is planning to put up a big tent at the venue for the rally. The design or location of the tent could have been modified to avoid tree-cutting, which has adversely impacted green cover in the city,” NCP’s Rajya Sabha MP said Vandana Chavan said.

Chavan further said trees were cut during chief minister’s Mahajanadesh Yatra, and that Fadnavis has expressed his displeasure in the matter and ordered strict action. “An inquiry was ordered, but there was hardly any action,” she said.

Congress termed the incident insensitive. “BJP leaders, especially Union ministers, proudly announce how they issue quick environment clearances to projects. Most of these projects are going to cause problems to the environment. The very mindset of safeguarding the nature is lacking in the BJP leadership, and it shows in their actions. Talking about chopping of trees so casually highlights this,” state Congress spokesperson Gopal Tiwari said.

But a BJP spokesperson said the party had nothing to do with the matter. “BJP had not applied for permission to cut any trees. The college had applied for permission and PMC allowed it,” Ujjwal Keskar, BJP spokesperson, said.

A PMC official said the college was given permission on Monday to cut 16 trees on the premises. “The college approached us for permission to remove these trees, as they were in a dangerous condition following heavy rains,” tree officer Ashish Mahadalkar said.

Joint commissioner of police Ravindra Shisve said the venue has been out of bounds ever since it was announced as the venue for the rally. “Police have cordoned off the place. No outsiders are being allowed to visit the place. We have issued passes to the workers,” Shisve said.

SP College principal Dilip Sheth could not be contacted till the time of going to the press.