Pune: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a directive to the Pune Police Commissioner, seeking an explanation for the Hadapsar police's failure to attend a hearing and submit a report concerning an illegal tree-cutting incident on the Pune-Solapur highway.

Despite being granted two weeks to prepare, the Hadapsar police were absent from the proceedings, prompting the NGT to express strong dissatisfaction.

The Kadamb Foundation has planted various types of trees along the median strip of the Pune-Solapur National Highway from Ravidarshan to Kawadipat toll plaza.

A few months ago, approximately 70 trees were illegally cut down near the Shevalewadi bus depot. In response, Nitin Kolte, the president of the foundation, filed a complaint with the Hadapsar police station.

However, due to the lack of serious action by the Hadapsar police, Kolte, through advocates Chetan Nagre, Sudhakar Awhad, and Siddhi Mirghe, filed a case with the NGT (Western Bench) against the National Highway Authority, Pune Municipal Corporation, District Collector, Divisional Forest Officer, and Hadapsar Police Station.

During the hearing, the Hadapsar police neither appeared nor submitted the required report on the action taken. This led to the NGT, led by Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and judicial expert Dr. Vijay Kulkarni, expressing their dissatisfaction and ordering a registered letter to be sent to the Police Commissioner, seeking information on the conduct of the Hadapsar police.

The letter also directs the police to provide a written response within two weeks detailing the actions taken in this tree-cutting case.

Meanwhile, Advocate Swati Pandit, representing the second respondent (the District Collector), requested an additional two weeks to file a counter-affidavit, which the tribunal granted.