Chandigarh prunes procedure for axing of dangerous trees

Saurabh Malik

Chandigarh, August 1

Pruning the procedure for axing dangerous trees, UT Chief Conservator of Forests today undertook before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the entire process would be completed within 48 hours. The assertion came as the Chief Conservator claimed removal of 1,831 green dangerous trees since 2018, including 338 this year itself.

Removed since 2018

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1,831 Green & dangerous

1,241 Dead/dry

Felled this year

338 Green & dangerous

173 Dead/dry

In a reply placed before the Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha and Justice Arun Palli, it was stated the existing procedure was revisited and shortened to minimise chances of any untoward incident in the future.

Referring to an order of July 22, the Chief Conservator stated any grieved person could now make a complaint on the Chandigarh Smart City Limited portal, “acting as a single window for all kind of trees in Chandigarh”.

The portal, on receipt of the request, would immediately forward the same to the department concerned — the Engineering/Horticulture of the corporation, or the Forest, as the case maybe. An SDO-level officer would immediately conduct a preliminary inspection. He would either reject the request at his level or forward the same to the tree felling committee.

Any jurisdictional issue would be decided by the committee, which would meet at least once a month. It would go in for a detailed inspection of trees and make recommendations, whether the same required pruning, felling, transplantation or pollarding.

“The recommendation of the committee would be sent to the respective heads of the department for approval. In case of dangerous trees, the entire process is to be completed in 48 hours,” it was stated. The reply added 1,241 dead/dry trees, including 173 this year, were removed since 2018. The Bench was also told no less than 723 trees were subjected to heavy pruning this year.

The Bench was hearing a petition filed in public interest after the fall of a heritage tree took the life of a Carmel Convent School student. Among other things, it was seeking time-bound probe by a sitting HC judge. In his petition, petitioner-advocate Kunal Mulwani stated the inquiry was required to be ordered not only to “fix responsibility, but also to appoint such other committees to frame proper guidelines to be followed rigorously in a periodical manner to avoid the recurrence of any such untoward incident in the future, especially in and around the schools and other public places”.

Senior advocate Chetan Mittal, on the petitioner’s behalf, also sought directions for calling statistical data of the past five years on the maintenance, identification and removal of trees threat to life and property of the public at large. Directions were also sought for further calling the data regarding the complaints received in this regard and its redress.

Mittal also sought directions to the respondents to plan and take all necessary steps to ensure safety of life and property of the public at large and avoid any unfortunate incidents or accidents arising out of falling trees, besides electricity and telephone poles, in view of the undertaking given way back in 2014 in a matter placed before the High Court.

Mittal stated a number of such unfortunate incidents had been reported due to falling trees leading to deaths despite affidavit and undertaking before the High Court. Referring to another incident that took place outside a government school at Mani Majra on July 9, Mulwani added a tree planted outside the boundary fell inside the premises.

He added regular pruning of trees was not being done. At many places, the branches were falling and even covering street lights. At some places, a curtain of leaves covered the traffic lights. As a result, there was complete darkness in the street leading to accidents and rise in anti-social activities.

Mittal submitted a blame game had started between the Chandigarh Administration, Municipal Corporation and school authorities to evade responsibility.

UT Chief Conservator of Forests told the High Court the Chandigarh Administration would provide financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the student, who died in the mishap on July 8. The administration would also provide financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the grievously injured and Rs 1 lakh to students suffering minor injuries.

Chief Conservator of Forests’ assertion in court

• Plaint can be raised on Chandigarh Smart City Limited portal, acting as single window for all kinds of trees
• Will be forwarded to dept concerned; SDO-level officer will hold inspection, and further reject request or forward it to a committee on felling
• Panel will go in for a detailed inspection of the tree, make recommendation of pruning, felling, transplantation or pollarding thereafter
• Recommendation to be sent to respective dept head for approval; dangerous trees to be axed within 48 hours

Aid for carmel victims

The UT Chief Conservator of Forests told the High Court the UT Admn would provide financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh to kin of student killed in July 8 mishap. Further, financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh will be given to the grievously injured and Rs 1 lakh to students suffering minor injuries.