Stricter norms for felling trees on non-forest govt land

To increase the forest cover from the existing 5.9 to 7.5 per cent, the state government has tightened norms for tree felling on the non-forest government land.

Tree felling is now being regulated by committees at the state, district and block levels and afforestation on the government land has been made mandatory under the Tree Preservation Policy for Non-Forest Government and Public Lands.

A senior functionary in the Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation said the exercise to form committees had begun after being notified by the Cabinet.

“Not only the land owned by the state government, but also the land parcels of the state-owned institutions, urban local bodies and panchayats, excluding the land notified under the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900, have been covered under the policy,” said the functionary.

Several instances have come to the fore wherein government officials of different departments, including the Rural Development and Panchayats, in connivance with private persons illegally permit tree felling, not only causing loss to the state exchequer but also damaging the tree cover.

The policy has authorised the department concerned to take necessary measures to protect trees and take action against violators under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). While sub-divisional committees would decide upon cases of up to 100 trees, district-level committees would act in cases involving more than 100 trees.

The policy also specifies the guidelines for removal of trees posing imminent threat to life and propert, besides pruning of trees.

All departments have been asked to plant five saplings for every tree felled, and ensure their maintenance for minimum five years.

The functionary said every department had been asked to identify suitable land bank for afforestation or deposit necessary funds with the Forest Department under the “Green Punjab Mission”.

Punjab