Hyderabad, Feb 8 (PTI): Alerted by an eighth standard student about felling of a 40-year-old neem tree near his house here, the forest department on Monday slapped a fine of 62,075 on the man who did it.

The man had cut the tree, saying it was obstructing construction of his new house, a forest department official said.

The boy noticed that the tree had been axed this morning, rang up the Forest Department's toll free number 1800 425 5364, identified himself as a 'Green Brigadier' and requested that action be taken against those responsible for cutting the tree.

Officials swung into action and their enquiries revealed that the man had not taken prior permission to cut the tree.

The man was then slapped with a fine of Rs 62,075, which he paid.

forest department officials congratulated the boy for acting responsibly by complaining over the tree felling. PTI

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)