By the decision of the prosecutor of the Public Interest Protection Department of the Vilnius District Prosecutor's Office Vilnius city municipalities mere Valdas Benkunskas warned not to violate the law. By the resolution, the mayor is also obliged to properly maintain the trees growing on the plot of land located at 14A J. Basanavičiaus Street in the capital, in order to ensure the physical and physiological condition of the protected trees.
The prosecutor's office reminds that in July of this year, there was an indignation of the capital's residents after it became clear that the businessmen, after ordering the reconstruction works of the building, intend to cut down the mature trees growing at the intersection of J. Basanavičius and Mindaugas streets.
Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė assigned the public interest prosecutors to evaluate the information that appeared.
According to the prosecutor's office, the Lithuanian national ICOMOS committee noted that the removal of greenery on J. Basanavičiaus street would have obviously significant consequences for the environment, including the impact on the UNESCO world heritage site - the historical center of Vilnius.
During the investigation, it was found that the reconstruction project, according to which the works are being carried out, provides for the removal of vegetation, the permission to cut them was not issued. That is, the trees cannot be removed, and according to the specialist's conclusion, eight trees must be protected and maintained.
Lithuanian legal acts provide for the municipality's duty not only to protect vegetation from illegal destruction, but also to carry out proper maintenance of trees. This is to carry out work and apply special measures aimed at maintaining the proper condition of the plantations so that they best serve their purpose, according to a statement issued by the prosecutor's office.
ELTA (ELTA)
