Navi Mumbai: Tree lovers were disturbed to see that an almond tree at Vashi, next to Ganesh Tower, was again illegally pruned in order to enhance the visibility of a hoarding behind it.In Sept last year, several nature lovers also held a public demonstration at the Vashi site in order to protest the frequent mutilation of this tree. Social activist Madhu Shankar said: “I complained to the NMMC garden department on Tuesday, because someone has again ruthlessly chopped off the top portion of the almond tree, for the obvious reason to increase the visibility of the hoarding.” An FIR was earlier filed by the civic body with regard to the illegal tree cutting.“The tree was first illegally pruned in Jan 2023. Exactly a month later, in Feb, the new hoarding was installed behind it. Since then, the tree has had to bear several pruning, whenever its leaves and branches became bigger, as it then blocked the hoarding,” said Shankar.The Vashi ward office is looking into the complaint.
