BENGALURU: In a far reaching direction, the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said that tree felling is prohibited in both forest and private lands in Karnataka unless and until, planting activity is mandatorily taken up before a single tree is felled.
In the aftermath of this order, state Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) Brijesh Kumar Dikshit has directed all conservators of forests, including Bengaluru, Chikkamagaluru and other 10 forest circles to strictly comply with the NGT directions
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He has further asked all district forest heads to implement the new directions on tree felling and planting activity in their respective districts.
As per the order, for every tree that is proposed to be felled, 10 trees will have to be planted. Further, sufficient money has to be deposited with the state forest department for the sapling’s care and protection, right from the day it is planted.
Due protection for the care of saplings will have to be provided by individuals or agencies or organisations responsible for felling of trees for the next five years. And, the place of planting the saplings will have to be in the same land or a nearby place selected by the forest department.
Welcoming the NGT order, activist G Veeresh said tree felling has become rampant in the Western Ghats-bound districts like Kodagu, Hassan, Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada and Chikkamagaluru in the last few years.
“We have seen large-scale felling of fully-grown mature species in forests, reserves, deemed forests and grazing lands. The government order to allow felling of Mango species proved to be a disaster with lakhs of trees cut by the timber mafia and, in the process, destroying jungle wood species to a large extent. The tribunal’s order, we hope will have a positive impact on plantation efforts in the coming days,” he said.
Local eco clubs, environmental organisations and ecologists in Bengaluru hope that at least with this order, a new era will dawn and there will be enough funds for the care and maintenance of saplings as 50-60 per cent of saplings that is planted do not survive. But at the same time, this should not lead to indiscriminate felling activity, they caution.
The Cauvery Sene, Madikeri, had approached the NGT against the Karnataka government over the rampant felling of trees. The tribunal has further asked the forest department to file an affidavit of compliance before it.