Thane bird deaths: Forest dept files FIR against 4 | Mumbai News

Thane: A day after around 45 sub-adult and juvenile birds fell to their death from their nests and 28 others suffered injuries during a tree trimming operation at a Thane housing society, the forest department lodged an FIR against four persons, including the contractor, on Friday. Kasarwadavli police, too, registered a non-cognisable complaint late on Thursday on Thane Municipal Corporation’s nudge. A team of forest officials revisited the site, Rutu Enclave Society in Anand Nagar, to check if any fledgling had been left behind. Many birds were seen hovering over the premises and tree stumps, desperately trying to locate their nests. Officials and rescue workers said the condition of some juvenile birds was worsening, raising fears that the death count could go up.“We recorded the statements of three senior citizens —an office bearer of the society’s committee and two residents who wrote to it requesting the tree trimming. The fourth accused is the contractor who is yet to record his statement as he is away due to a health emergency at home. Relevant sections of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, have been invoked. The next course of action may be decided after the contractor’s statement is recorded,” said Dinesh Desale, range forest officer, Thane. Other forest officials said some birds that died were a protected species under Schedule II of the Act and the charges invoked involve a jail term of at least two years.Activists said they could approach higher authorities if the administration’s action felt unsatisfactory.