Civic authorities today alleged that the Railway administration illegally cut down three neem trees and a tamarind tree in the parking area outside the railway station here which were home to hundreds of birds.
As many as 17 birds, including herons, cattle egrets and little egrets, died as the trees were cut down without any permission this morning, while more than 80 birds were injured and some 400 birds lost their habitat, said the authorities.
Garden officer A M Walunje said, "No permission was taken from the authorities for cutting down the trees. We have shifted the injured birds to the aviary at the zoo in the Siddharth garden."
Forest officer N M Jadhav said that panchnamas were being carried out, and after investigation, action will be taken.
Railway engineer Ashutosh Kumar said that the commercial department of Railways was asked to trim the trees to nine- feet, but the labourers cut them down completely.
Local environmentalist K Pathak said if at all the trees were to be cut, then the birds should have been shifted before that.
