THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Forest Department will convene a special meeting of the Tree Protection Committee on Saturday to take decision on the cutting down of trees that are precariously positioned on the waysides.
A total of 35 applications for cutting down trees in the city area have been under consideration of the Forest Department till January this year on which the final decision has to be taken by the committee. “Some trees need not be disposed of. But only certain branches need to be cut down. It is expected that the Committee will be giving sanction in the meeting as there are not a huge number of trees under consideration,” said assistant conservator of Forests Social Forestry P K Jayakumar Sharma.
The Forest Department is eager to take decision on the trees before the monsoon as the trees which are dangerously positioned on the roadsides cause threat to life and property. The staff of the department have been verifying the details of the 35 applications for the past two weeks to identify those who have to be disposed of and those whose branches need to removed. It has been planned to take swift action in the case of trees which are a threat to life and property.
The meeting will be held at the chamber of the Mayor, who is the chairperson of the Committee. Members of the Tree Protection Committee, including poet Sugathakumari, will take part in the meeting. Assistant Conservator of Forests, Social Forestry is the convenor of the Committee. The government is the custodian of the trees in public places and cutting them needs sanction from the Forest Department.