NAWABSHAH, Nov 26: The district health department on Saturday chopped down more than 50 eucalyptus trees in the office of the EDO health without going through the procedure and obtaining prior permission.

EDO (health) Dr Khalique Mangnejo replied when asked why the trees had been cut down that he decided to have them removed because they posed serious hazard to vehicles parked under them. They started felling trees worth thousands of rupees on Friday and finished with the job by Saturday afternoon.

Whe asked if he had obtained permission he said that it was purely health department’s decision. DO (health) Dr Bahadur Khero awarded the contract for cutting down trees to a private person for Rs27,000, he added.

A district administration officer said while requesting anonymity that cutting down trees was not only a violation of Forest Act 1927 but the department also did not go through the set procedure mentioned in SLGO 2001.

EDO Forest Tariq Irfan said that he received a letter from EDO health on Saturday asking the forest department to measure the chopped down trees and make an estimate of valuation. He advised to the EDO health to stop cutting down the trees but by that time almost all the trees had been felled and the wood taken away by the contractor, he said.

District Nazim Faryal Talpur said that she was totally unaware of the incident.

The district government had not given any permission neither was it sought by the health department, she said.

EDO health later told this scribe that he had cancelled the contract for wood and directed the officials to keep it in the office until it was sold by auction in accordance with legal procedures.