Pune: PCMC Revokes Hoarding Licences Amidst Tree Pruning Scandal
Pimpri, 18th January 2024: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has taken stringent action by revoking seven hoarding licenses following reports of illegal tree pruning in the twin cities to enhance the visibility of advertisements.
This move comes in the wake of an FIR filed against a licensee in the Chikhali area on January 16. PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh issued a stern warning to hoarding licensees, emphasizing that any illegal tree trimming activities would result in legal consequences, including the revocation of licenses.
Singh highlighted the civic body’s ongoing efforts to allocate public funds for tree planting and preservation across the twin cities, with a dedicated budgetary provision for this purpose. Despite these initiatives, certain individuals, including hoarding licensees, have been caught engaging in unauthorized tree pruning.
Officials from the garden department of PCMC disclosed that eight cases related to illegal tree trimming in the twin cities have been officially registered. Additionally, letters have been dispatched to the police to initiate investigations and register nine more cases, imposing fines as necessary.
Pradeep Jambhale Patil, the additional municipal commissioner, expressed concern over the recurrence of such incidents despite prior actions taken by the authorities. He specifically pointed out that hoarding licensees were found involved in tree trimming activities solely to enhance the visibility of their advertisements.
