Inspectors of the municipal enterprise “Green Areas” caught a group of persons with two units of  transport felling trees in the Chisinau Park “Valea Morilor”. The municipality called the police and noted that the lot where the felled trees were growing belongs to the Public Property Agency that is managed by the Government, IPN reports.

The Chisinau City Hall said representatives of the Chisinau Environmental Agency were called out to ascertain the committed illegalities, while the police documented the case and are taking measures to identify those who committed these.

MP of the Party of Action and Solidarity Radu Marian reacted to this case, saying that healthy trees were cud down in the middle of the day, without an authorization from the Environmental Agency and without notifying the Environmental Protection Inspectorate. “Such illegalities couldn’t have been committed without the consent of the municipal enterprise “Green Areas” (whose employees were at the scene and were loading the wood into a vehicle, according to preliminary investigations). It is known that “Green Areas” does not lift a finger without the mayor’s consent. There are all the signs of an illegality and abuse of office by persons who manage the capital city. There will be consequences. The municipal councilors of PAS already notified the law enforcement agencies,” said Radu Marian.

In a comment below the MP’s post, Minister of Environment Iuliana Cantaragiu said that a report was compiled, but the trees had been felled and there are no legal provisions by which the culprits could be obliged to plant other trees instead. “As long as the people are vicious, such things happen. It is important that the system created by the people works so that such individuals could be held accountable and other persons are discouraged from committing similar acts. A number of variables should be adjusted for the purpose,” stated the minister.

Following contradictory public reports on the issue, the Chisinau City Hall said the municipal enterprise “Green Areas” didn’t carry out tree felling works in that area and permits were issued by the Environmental Agency that is not subordinate to the City Hall.