Seventeen full-grown trees have been felled at a ground owned by the state agricultural department in Buniadpur in South Dinajpur allegedly to make space for a proposed public meeting by chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Mamata is likely to be in Buniadpur and hold a public meeting there on March 4, said sources.

“We have come to know that the chief minister will visit Buniadpur next month. For her meeting, full-grown trees have been cut down at the ground there. This is something unacceptable at a time we speak at length on conservation of nature. I have sent a complaint to the district magistrate via e-mail and sought action against persons concerned,” said Rakibul Islam, the CPM MLA of Harirampur, under which Buniadpur falls.

The felled trees included mango trees and akashmoni (tan wattle) variety, the sources said.

Members of the Bangsihari River and Environment Committee — a social organisation — also protested the felling of the trees.

“We would be glad to welcome the chief minister to Buniadpur. But there is no reason to cut down trees to create space for her public meeting. We have registered our protest with the authorities,” said Amar Pal, the secretary of the committee.

Nikhil Nirmal, the district magistrate, has said he has not received the MLA’s complaint so far. “Once I receive it, I will look into it,” he said.

Akhil Burman, a Trinamul leader and the chairman of the Buniadpur municipality, said: “Those trees had dried up. Anyway, we will have to cut them down one day. The felling of the trees has nothing to do with the chief minister’s visit.”