Mawkyrwat: South West Khasi Hills District Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo has issued an order that tree felling by any individual, group or party for any purpose whatsoever, which are contrary to ‘The Meghalaya Tree Felling (Non-Forest Areas) Rules, 2006’, is prohibited throughout the District.
Laloo said that the office has noticed that there has been rampant tree felling in various private and community holdings, village lands and private plantations in several areas within the district in a widespread manner causing a loss of precious tree cover, thus having an adverse impact on the environment, causing soil erosion, water cycle disruption, changes in the climatic conditions and loss of biodiversity.
“Forest clearing seems to be going in an unregulated manner without following any rules or giving due consideration to law. The effects of deforestation are localised and far-reaching and can have disastrous consequences. Therefore, this office hereby prohibits any individual, group or party from resorting to tree felling for any purpose whatsoever which are contrary to The Meghalaya Tree Felling (Non-Forest Areas) Rules, 2006,” she said.
The Meghalaya Tree Felling (Non-Forest Areas) Rules, 2006 – based on which the order was made — are synopsized as tree plantations, which are raised in areas which are non-forest land and which are not financially assisted by the government or any other association.
The plantations should be registered by the individual/village organisation/Hima/ clan, etc in the office of the Chief Forest Officer, KHADC. Tree plantations, which are raised in areas with full or partial financial assistance from the government, shall be registered with the Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial).
Due permission should be sought from the Chief Forest Officer of the KHADC or the Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial), depending on the jurisdiction, for felling of such trees. In case of registered social forestry plantations or plantations raised by government departments, permission for felling is to be sought from Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial) through the concerned forest officer, Social Forestry Division.
Even in the case of isolated trees in non-forest areas like homestead/farm etc, if required to be felled, an application must be to the Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial) or the Chief Forest Officer, KHADC.
No permission for felling shall be granted in respect of unregistered plantations, as mentioned in the rules. Timber obtained from trees felled in violation of these rules will be confiscated to the state government/Autonomous District Council depending on the jurisdiction and as per rules.
Any instances of logging/ felling of trees or clearance of forests in contravention of the said rules, or transit of such illegally obtained timber, if found, will be dealt with strictly as per law.
