The Uttarakhand forest department has decided to amend theUttar Pradesh Tree Protection Actof 1976, said state forest ministerSubodh Uniyalon Monday. The minister added that easing the provisions of the Act would help state residents plant new varieties of trees and fell the old ones as and when required.
As perScheduleI of the UP Tree Protection Act, an individual is required to obtain permission before felling 2 types of timber trees, including deodar, khair, sandal, chir and walnut.
Similarly,Schedule IIof the Act makes it mandatory to seek permission before felling 13 fruit trees like litchi, mango, pomegranate and plum, among others. However, the Act does not apply to trees situated in reserved, protected, cantonment areas and in government gardens, or on the land held by the government.
Due to the Act, state residents who wish to fell or remove trees even for genuine causes are made to secure a slew of clearances from the forest department, said Uniyal. Those who flout the norms of the Act may be fined Rs 1,000 or imprisoned for six months. According to the forest minister, the stringent provisions of the Act make it difficult for state residents to use their private land optimally. The decision to amend the Act has been taken after observing a shift in the land use pattern, said Uniyal while chairing a meeting regarding a proposed plantation drive in July. “There is a reluctance among people towards planting new trees even on their personal property because of this Act.