Madikeri: A Tree Authority Committee meeting was held at the city’s ‘Aranya Bhavan’ after 808 trees were recently cut down in K Nidugane village. The meeting was held in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy, Chief Conservator of Forests Santhosh Kumar and Deputy Conservator of Forests Maria Christaraj.
The committee meeting concluded with the decision not to grant permission to cut or transport trees during monsoon. Cutting down trees is restricted till the end of September.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI), in the wake of last year’s natural calamities, had identified sensitive calamity-prone areas. The Tree Authority Committee has decided to grant permission to cut down trees only in such areas if necessary. Mass or large scale tree cutting will not be allowed.
The committee has also decided to allow farmers and planters of the district to use only 300 CFT wood for 15 years. Excluding sensitive areas, hereafter, permission will be granted to cut not more than 10 trees in one acre of land for 5 years.
