‘Minus the green cover, Queen of Hills will lose its charm’

What efforts are being made by the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) to protect and conserve the valuable forest wealth of the town?

I fully agree that the majestic deodars and forest cover within the town adds to the beauty of the town. Minus the green cover, the “Queen of Hills” will completely lose its charm, for which tourists come from world over. As such, it is the duty of not just the SMC, but every citizen to protect trees and take steps which will help in the further propagation and regeneration of the green cover. Since I became the Mayor, the SMC in association with various social and voluntary organisations has undertaken plantation drives. We make efforts to take good after-care of the plants and the survival rate of these plantations is close to 80 per cent.

Do you feel that the law is stringent enough and penalty sufficient for felling a green tree or causing it harm by injecting acid or any other means? Should it be made more stringent in view of the large number of cases of intentional damage to trees being reported from all over the town?

Yes, I feel there needs to be a stricter penalty, as several cases have come to our notice where trees have been damaged so that they dry up and can be conveniently removed. It is in the domain of the government to amend the Municipal Corporation Act, so that people think twice before causing harm to a tree, which eventually leads to its death.

There has been a tussle between the SMC and the Forest Department over the control of urban forest within the municipal limits. What is your stand on that?

On November 27, the MC delegation, accompanied by Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, met the Chief Minister, seeking handing back the Shimla forests to the SMC. We face a lot of problem as for even the smallest work we have to seek permission from Forest Department and in many cases the file goes up right to the Cabinet. The SMC, which undertakes several works like road repair, small construction work and many other such tasks, has to run every now and then to the Forest Department for permissions, which delays developmental work. Even a small job like lopping of branches of trees, entering a house or interfering with electricity lines or poles has to be sent right up to the Cabinet for approval. I feel the SMC should have powers to take decisions on such matters, which will make things far more convenient for us as well as the affected citizens. It is in light of these issues, that the SMC is demanding control of the forests to it from the Forest Department. For the technical knowhow and protection of forests, the department people can be deputed. Moreover, the funds for maintaining and protecting forests can come from the Forest Department as it has ample funds.

Questions are raised from time to time on the recommendations of the Tree Authority Committee (TAC), headed by the Mayor. Do you feel TAC is doing a fair job and should be given more powers?

I cannot say how things were before I became the Mayor, but in my term, I personally visit each site and ensure that only genuine cases for felling are moved for the Cabinet’s approval. We have also taken action against more than 75 house owners within the last two months, who have deliberately caused harm to trees, adjacent to their property.

TAC must be given some powers to take decision itself and not send each case to the Cabinet. For eg., TAC should be authorised to allow lopping. Very often, dry trees or branches pose a threat to houses and if TAC had powers, there would be no delay.