SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya has felt that engagement of experts was essential to regulate the entire process concerning trees in and around the city.
An affidavit of the divisional forest officer, Khasi Hills, Territorial division, Shillong was filed on Wednesday and its copy was supplied to the petitioner for submission of his response by Thursday.
During the course of submissions, when Court tried to enquire about the expertise available with the government of Meghalaya in its forest department, the response from the divisional forest officer and the government advocate has, prima facie, given an impression that engagement of some experts was essential to regulate the entire process concerning the trees in and around the city of Shillong, which was the first issue in the petition.
The broader issues as indicated on August 18 would be taken up for consideration at a later stage.
In continuation of the submissions made on the last date, the petitioner K Paul submitted that he has conferred with some of the experts working with Botanical Survey of India, North Eastern Hill University and Agro-Forestry, ICAR, who have expressed willingness to take up the tasks assigned to them in relation to the matter.
Paul further submitted that he would request at least two of the experts to remain present before the Court on Thursday.
The Court has listed the matter for further orders on Thursday at 3 pm, as prayed.
