Forest department, Aurangabad Municipal Corporation pass the buck on Himayat Bagh trees

26 April 2022

AURANGABAD: Providing heritage tag to ancient trees at the Himayat Bagh and undertaking a tree census for the same purpose is still not in sight despite directives from the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court.

Both the forest department and Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) are passing the buck on each other when it comes to protecting the characteristic green cover at the Mughal-era garden.

In a letter, dated March 11, the forest department had written to the AMC, asking to initiate necessary steps as the local tree authority runs under the aegis of the local civic body.

“If speedy steps are taken to award the heritage tag to the green cover at the Himayat Bagh, it would not lead to contempt of court. The forest department is ready to provide all possible support to the civic authorities,” S G Patil, assistant conservator of forest, had said in the letter.

Even after lapse of more than three weeks to such official correspondence, no official steps have been initiated for protecting the trees at the Mughal-era garden. When contacted AMC garden superintendent Vijay Patil said it was decided to carry out a tree census jointly with the forest department. “We have conveyed our plans to the forest department and awaiting further communication from their side,” he said.

Conservationists are fuming over the alleged lack of coordination between the forest department and AMC. “The inordinate delay in offering heritage tag to the trees at Himayat Bagh has been taking place despite the directives issued by the Bombay high court. It shows how insensitive authorities are towards the protecting the tree-cover at Himayat Bagh,” Honorary wildlife warden for Aurangabad, Kishor Pathak said.