Court appoints experts to assess tree cutting

SHILLONG: The division bench of the High Court of Meghalaya, while hearing a PIL on tree cutting, said on Tuesday that court-appointed experts will visit spots to assess whether it was required to cut down any tree or not.
Earlier on June 13, four weeks were granted to the Advocate General for filing requisite affidavit. However, it was made clear that the trees which are causing and posing threat and require immediate action, will be cut down in accordance with the rules.
Advocate General made a submission that he had received the report on tree cutting from the concerned authorities and produced the photographs of the tree which has been cut down recently.
According to his submission, following proper procedure and looking to the deteriorating conditions of a tree, a decision was taken to cut it down in the interest of public.The court said petitioner will be at liberty to file a detailed application with copy in advance to the Advocate General so as to make the position clear.
The copy of the report produced by the Advocate General for perusal before the Court will also be supplied to the experts appointed by the Court.
Meanwhile, the state forest department is in the process of identifying trees in the city which can fall any time posing a threat to safety.
An official from the department said that last year, around 600 such trees were felled but the numbers have gone down this time.
The official also said forest department usually gives permission for cutting down of trees which are imminent to collapse.
An otherwise busy GS Road in the city was closed for four hours on Saturday afternoon to cut down a tree whose branches were hanging dangerously over the road.
Last year, three occupants of a moving local passenger taxi were killed and two others injured at All India Radio Junction in Shillong when a eucalyptus tree on the Raj Bhavan premises fell on the vehicle during the incessant rain.