KOLLAM: Ombudsman for Local Self-Government Institutions M.R.Hariharan has ordered the Kollam Corporation not to fell the remaining 42 trees that had been left after large-scale felling of trees by the Corporation for the widening of the Kappalandimukku-Asramam Muneeswarankoil road here. The order was issued on a complaint filed by environmentalist Odanavattom Vijayaprakash. In his complaint, Vijayaprakash said that though the Corporation had obtained sanction to fell 128 trees, a total of 134 trees had been felled. He said that there were moves to fell more trees as there was a tacit understanding between the contractor and the Corporation authorities. Though the Social Forestry Department had assessed Rs 4,88,880 as the value of the trees, the contract was awarded for an amount of Rs 3,56,000, he said in his complaint. In his statement filed before the Ombudsman, the Corporation secretary said that 128 trees were felled as per the previous order and it was done to prevent the funds sanctioned for the current financial year under the ADB loan from getting lapsed. The Ombudsman noted that more number of trees were felled than the sanctioned number and observed that the road widening was progressing very slowly. The Ombudsman asked the Corporation secretary to document the details of the remaining 42 trees in its record and to protect them. He also ordered the secretary to inform him about the progress of the road widening at its next sitting on April 30. The Ombudsman gave direction to the secretary to plant number of same variety trees in place of the felled ones and to set up a committee for the protection of them. The Ombudsman also sent the copies of the order to the District Collector and Social Forestry Department.