Ghaziabad, July 30 (IANS): Authorities in Ghaziabad have illegally cut down over 5,600 trees in the last eight years, an environmental activist claimed on Thursday.

Environmentalist Akash Vadhishtha, in a press conference, alleged that the Ghaziabad forest department has been lax in prosecuting the offenders.

He said the office of the divisional forest officer (DFO) provided him the data under the Right to Information Act.

He said the development authority illegally cut 4,935 trees in the last eight years, while the municipal corporation cut 721 and the Avas Vikas cut 11 trees.

The activist said the information revealed that out of 137 criminal cases registered under the UP Trees Protection Act of 1976, no offenders were booked in the last 10 years.

The department wrapped up 132 cases by merely imposing financial penalty, he said.

Meanwhile, local councillor Rajendra Tyagi has filed a police complaint against cutting of trees to build a cycle track in the city.