Panels to regulate cutting and planting of trees

The authorities has constituted inexperienced committees on the State and district ranges to regulate the cutting and planting of trees in public lands and public places of work following a Madras High Court directive.

Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department secretary Supriya Sahu would be the Chairperson of the committee.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and head of the Forest Department would be the member secretary. The Secretaries of Industries, Rural Development, Municipal Admini- stration, Revenue, Tourism, PWD, Highways and the DGP would be the members.

The committee will present coverage help to district committees for the preservation of trees and for felling/elimination/disposal of standing/ fallen trees on public lands and in public locations.

It will put together an annual plan for tree planting within the State, present coverage help for native species particular to the bio-geographical zone. It may also present coverage help for eradicating unique trees from varied authorities lands/public locations in a phased method to get replaced by the native tree species.

The committee would meet as soon as in three months and work out incentives for organisations and people to encourage tree planting, stated an order by Ms. Sahu.

District committees

The Collector would be the chairperson of the district committees, with the district forest officer because the member secretary.

They will map all trees on public lands and in public locations and put together a complete record.

These committees will grant permission for felling of trees solely after due verification.

Apart from taking care of funding points, the committees may also undertake annual planting of trees and mobilise self-help teams, farmers, youth organisations, and members of civil society teams for organising nurseries.