Thane, Jul 17 (PTI) Reckless cutting of tree branches on the premises of a residential society in Maharashtra’s Thane city led to the death of more than two dozen birds on Thursday, prompting the civic body to lodge a police complaint, officials said.
The death of so many birds, including sparrows and mynas, left the environmentalists and common citizens aghast, who demanded strict action against those responsible for it.
The incident occurred at the housing society in Kasarvadavali area of the city.
According to the officials, the society had obtained permission from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to prune trees within its premises.
“The society appointed a contractor whose workers began trimming the trees without following any safety protocols and did not check whether there were birds and their nests on the trees,” Madhukar Bodke, Deputy Municipal Commissioner of the Thane civic body’s Garden Department, said.
“Soon after being informed about it, we sent our garden inspector and supervisor to the site and got it verified. It was a horrifying sight as a large number of birds died due to it,” he said.
This is not just a violation, but cruelty, and those responsible for it must face legal consequences, Bodke said.
“We have lodged a police complaint against the office-bearers of the residential society and the contractor appointed to trim the trees,” he said.
Garden inspector Dr Rahul Durgude said around 25 birds, including sparrows, mynas and bulbuls, died in the incident.
“We have issued a notice to the society seeking an explanation. They had permission only for controlled trimming of trees, but they blatantly ignored the safety procedures, leading to this slaughter,” he said.
An resident of the society expressed grief over the death of so many avians at once.
“They came to trim trees, but left birds massacred. We never imagined that a decision meant to clean the trees would result in the death of innocent birds,” she said.
As the news about the death birds spread, wildlife activists and bird lovers rushed to the site. Some filmed the dead birds and confronted the workers, who allegedly fled the scene when civic officials arrived.
The activists rescued around 20 birds and took them for treatment, the officials said.
Meanwhile, the forest department has collected the bird carcasses for examination.
“This isn’t just about permissions. It’s about mindfulness – the kind that was clearly absent here,” a forest official said from the spot.
An official from the Kasarvadavali police station said the process to register an FIR was underway.
“Investigation is on and we will take appropriate legal action,” he said.
Following the incident, activists demanded tighter controls and mandatory ecological assessments before any pruning or trimming work is permitted.
“This was not just about 25 birds but about the way we ignore those who share space with us. Birds are a vital part of our ecosystem,” a citizen said.
“The trees will grow again, but who will bring back the birds?” a resident said. PTI COR NP
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