28/08/2017
PUNE: It will
be easier to receive permission for tree cutting as the state government has
put restrictions on the Tree Authority to inspect the site where trees have to
be felled for constructions or other purposes.
The Maharashtra (urban areas) Protection and Preservation of
Trees Act, 1975, provides for permission for tree felling from the civic
bodies' Tree Authority and inspection of trees before granting of permission
for tree felling. In view of the Ease of Doing Business Assessment, 2017
reforms, the state government has issued a directive to facilitate tree felling
permission, saying that a particular inspector shall not inspect the same
establishment twice.
This will help in cutting down trees for projects without any
delay, said government officials. "For inspection of trees before granting
tree felling permission, the authority will ensure that while according
permission the same inspector shall not inspect the same establishment twice
consecutively," states the notification issued by the state urban
development department. The notification added that this will avoid delay and
bring uniformity in the process of site inspection for tree felling permission.
"The aim of Tree Authority in the municipal corporation
is to make better provision for trees in urban areas by regulating felling of
trees and providing for planting of adequate number of new trees in those areas.
The authority consists of 5 to 15 members and commissioner of the corporation
is the president of Tree Authority. There are many issues involved with regards
to permission for tree felling and many times corruption charges have been
levelled against members who halt tree cutting and seek favour in terms of
money and other forms," said a senior civic official.
Sources in the state urban development department said that the Chief Minister's Office has been receiving complaints from developers and business groups that they had to halt work as Tree Authority members in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Mumbai were not issuing tree cutting permissions and wanted repeated inspections to pressurize them.
0 comments:
Post a Comment