1,855 trees cut without permission in Mohali: DFO to NGT
National Green Tribunal
(NGT) that 1,855 trees were cut in Mohali area without mandatory permission. He informed that this happened outside the jurisdiction of the forest department and the land in question was not classified as forest land.
In a written reply submitted to the NGT, DFO Kanwar Deep Singh clarified that the land where the felling occurred falls under a non-forest category, and thus, the forest department had no authority to regulate or prevent cutting of trees on it. "The forest department does not have jurisdiction over the said land since it is not a forest area," stated the DFO.
The issue came to light in the wake of a petition filed by the Environment Protection Society, through its president, Harbhajan Singh Minhas and Save My Trees Foundation coordinator, Daljit Singh.
The complaint raised serious environmental concerns over large-scale felling of trees in the district.
According to the DFO's report, although the department was asked to assess the trees on non-forest land, permission for felling of trees was not granted. "It was clearly mentioned in our correspondence that the assessment does not constitute special permission or a No Objection Certificate (NoC). As per procedure, permission must be obtained from the competent authority of the respective department," the reply stated.
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The forest officer assessed the reserve value of the felled trees and 21 poles at around Rs 69 lakh. He proposed that this amount may be imposed as environmental compensation under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986. However, he noted that enforcement of environmental compensation lies within the purview of the Punjab State Pollution Control Board or the department of environment, not the forest department.
"As provisions related to environmental compensation fall under the Environment Protection Act, the agency concerned may be directed to take necessary steps," the DFO stated.
In a strong recommendation for environmental restoration, the forest department has suggested planting 10 times the number of saplings in place of the cut trees. "To ensure environmental protection and prevent pollution, we advise that 18,550 tree saplings be planted. These can be procured from forest department nurseries," said the DFO.
The matter now rests with the NGT and environmental authorities, with further directions awaited on compensatory measures and accountability of agencies involved in the unauthorised tree felling.
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