Thane, Sept. 2 -- With Thane's Tree Authority missing for four years, environmental and political activists have raised questions over how the Thane Municipal Corporation 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. Elections were subsequently delayed due to Covid-19 and other reasons, leaving the Tree Authority missing for the next four years. The civic elections were finally held in January 2026, but more than six months later, the authority is still not in place. The Tree Authority is headed by the municipal commissioner and includes corporators and nominated environmentalists or representatives of green organisations. Activists said its absence has raised concerns over who has been scrutinising proposals involving the removal or transplantation of trees. Thane environmentalist Rohit Joshi told HT, "As per the rules, permission for cutting, uprooting and transplanting trees can only be granted by the Tree Authority. If the permissions are not granted by the Tree Authority, they are illegal," he said. TMC deputy mayor Krishna Patil said the delay in constituting the Tree Authority was part of a larger delay in setting up several committees and approval authorities after the civic elections....