3 authorities nod must to fell trees

3 authorities nod must to fell trees
DH News Service,Bangalore:
Now, before felling trees Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has got to seek permission from three authorities, according to the verdict of the Lok Adalat bench comprising Justice K L Manjunath and member Sharat Chandra.

Earlier the BBMP had an authority constituted under the Karnataka Tree Preservation Act-1976 which stipulated that the authority must have a mayor or administrator or special officer as the chairperson and also a separate tree officer. Without the permission from the tree officer, trees cannot be felled in any municipal bodies including the BBMP.
However, following petition by the environmentalists against the tree felling for widening road, the HC directed the BBMP to constitute an empowered committee. Accordingly the BBMP constituted a committee chaired by a retired IAS officer Yellappa Reddy.
Now, the BBMP will have to take permission from the tree authority, quasi judicial empowered committee and the Lok Adalat. According to the sources, it takes more than four weeks to get clearance from the tree authority and the empowered committee may take weeks to give permission. “Projects which necessitate tree felling may get further delayed,” said a senior BBMP officer. The officer, on condition of anonymity, said the delay does not mean that the work will halt, “but the procedure will become lengthy.” But he felt that these checks and balances are necessary to keep the city green.

REDRESSAL


The BBMP is learnt to have decided to move the High Court against the Lok Adalat’s verdict on tree felling. The Adalat also observed that the felling was illegal as the high-level committee appointed by the High Court to monitor the felling of trees had no power to permit such an action. The BBMP has decided to file a fresh petition ‘praying for redressal’, said the BBMP sources.