Memorandum submitted to the Chief Officer of Kagal Municipal Council
Kolhapur, Maharashtra – Representatives from the Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad and other pro-Hindu organisations submitted a memorandum to the Chief Officer of the Kagal Municipal Council, Ajay Patankar, demanding an immediate end to the ‘silent killing’ of trees in Kagal town of Kolhapur district. The delegation urged the authorities to swiftly remove the concrete laid around tree trunks, in accordance with directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the High Court.
Upon receiving the memorandum, Chief Officer Ajay Patankar assured the delegation that nails driven into trees and advertisement boards affixed to them would be removed immediately. He further stated that instructions would be issued promptly to the relevant department to clear the concrete surrounding the trees.
The delegation included Babasaheb Bhopale of the Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad, Avinash Powar of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Kiran Kulkarni of the Hindu Rashtra Samanvay Samiti, Dhanaji Nangare and Vaibhav Adke of the Shiv Sena, Hindu activist Pranav Nimbalkar, Anil Jadhav of the Grahak Panchayat, and Balwant Nadgauda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Key demands outlined in the memorandum
- Adherence to NGT orders: Strictly enforce the National Green Tribunal’s May 2025 order by removing the concrete around tree roots without causing them damage. Furthermore, penalties should be imposed on the contractors responsible, and the concrete should be cleared at their expense.
- Removal of illegal fixtures: Launch a dedicated drive to remove all nails driven into trees, alongside any advertisement boards and bound wires. Formal legal proceedings should be initiated against those responsible.
- Transparency and public accountability: The Municipal Council should publicly disclose the number of trees freed from concrete, the names of the defaulting contractors, and the current condition of the trees by publishing these details on its official website.
