PANAJI
To curb unauthorised tree felling, the State government has amended the Goa Preservation of Trees Act, 1984, making it mandatory for the Tree Officer to verify land ownership and obtain consent from all co-owners before granting permission to cut or remove trees.
As per the notification issued by Under Secretary (Forest) Sitaram Sawal, the Tree Officer must make due and reasonable efforts to ascertain ownership of the land and secure a No Objection Certificate from all co-owners if the land is jointly owned.
The amendment also enhances transparency by requiring that all tree-felling permissions be uploaded on the Forest Department’s official portal within two days of issuance. Copies of the order must be endorsed to the concerned Village Panchayat, Block Development Officer or Sub-Divisional Magistrate or Deputy Collector, and the Range Forest Officer or Sub-Divisional Forest Officer.
The notification further states that if permission for felling or cutting of trees is denied, the Tree Officer or Deputy Collector must clearly specify the reasons in the order.
Under the Act, Sub-Divisional Forest Officers are empowered to grant permission for felling of up to two trees, preferably within one week of application. The Deputy Conservator of Forests, acting as Tree Officer, can grant permission for felling of more than two trees and up to fifty trees in areas of less than one hectare, preferably within four weeks. Any proposal exceeding this limit will require prior approval of the government.
The government has also tightened compliance measures, stating that the security deposit will be forfeited if the individual or entity granted permission fails to undertake mandatory plantation of trees.
Additionally, the amended rules mandate a minimum window of ten days between the issuance of the order and the actual felling, allowing aggrieved parties an opportunity to file an appeal against the permission, if they so wish.
