On April 5, some Ashoka and palm trees were reportedly uprooted near the Rama Krishna Apartments in Patpargunj by the Retired and Retiring Government Employees Housing Society.

The trees were planted by Sanjay Jain, a resident of the Rama Krishna Apartments, nearly four years ago. According to Jain, ``On April 3, members of the housing society tried to uproot four Ashoka and palm trees as well as some small cacti to facilitate the construction of a road in the apartment complex and clear land to create additional parking space. I lodged a complaint with the Police Control Room and faxed a copy to the Forest Department.''

Jain added that officials from the Mandavali Police Station came to the spot and warned the office-bearers of the housing society not to uproot the trees till permission was granted by the Forest Department. However, they went ahead with it, he alleged.

The Mandavali police said that an investigation officer was sent to the site. ``When we asked the society members to wait for a reply from the Forest Department, they readily agreed to do so,'' said a local police official. The police, however, added that they were ignorant about the trees having been uprooted as no such complaint was lodged.

According to the general secretary of the housing society, Desh Raj Anand, the trees had to be uprooted to create more parking space in the locality. ``We have replanted the trees near the locality,'' he said, alleging that the aim behind planting them was to grab land. Anand admitted that they did not have the requisite permission from the Forest Department.

Jain, however, said that the trees were replanted as a mere formality. ``The trees were eight to ten feet tall. All of them died.''

``Even if the branches of a tree have to be cut, a written permission is required from the Forest Department,'' said Balbir Singh, Forest Officer, Delhi Forest Department. He, however, added that the matter could not be investigated till they received a written complaint.