India, Sept. 2 -- With Thane's Tree Authority missing for four years, environmental and political activists have raised questions over how the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) granted permissions for cutting and transplanting around 10,000 trees for infrastructure projects across the city.

The permissions were reportedly given for projects such as the Ring Route Metro, Anand Nagar-Saket Freeway, Thane-Borivali tunnel, coastal road, mental hospital and the new Thane railway station. Activists have alleged that the permissions were issued by the civic body's Garden Department even though the Tree Authority, which is supposed to oversee such decisions, was not in place.

The last elected civic body completed its term in March 2022. Electio...