HP govt allows felling of 23 tree species on pvt land

Shimla, April 24

In a major relief to owners of trees on private lands, Himachal Pradesh government has allowed felling of 23 species besides exempting the forest produce obtained from them from requirement of "Transit Pass".

The government amended the relevant sections of HP Land Preservation Act 1978 pertaining to "temporarily regulating, restricting and prohibiting felling of trees" provided that "there shall be no prohibition or restriction on 23 species of trees grown on private lands."

It also amended the HP Forest Produce Transit (Land Routes) Rules, 2013 provided that the forest produce obtained from notified plant species growing on private lands would be exempted from requirement of Transit Pass, according to a notification.

The decision has been taken to encourage the owners to grow plants trees on their lands as restrictions to fell trees or transit the forest produce had negative impact on plantations, a forest department official said.

The exempted species included Albizia, Bauhinia, Eucalyptus, Morus, Populus, Bamboo (Dendrocalaamin), Kuth (Saussurea costus), Kal Zira (Bunian persicum), Paper mulberry, Khirki (celtis), Toon, Jamun (Syzygiun cumini) teak/Sagwan, Arjun (Terminilia arjuna), Mallotus philippensis and Bombax ceiba, the notification said. —PTI