Forest dept gets tough on tree felling

Alarmed over depletion of green cover due to rapid urbanisation, the Gurgaon forest department has tightened the norms for cutting of trees in the district.

Alarmed over depletion of green cover due to rapid urbanisation, the Gurgaon forest department has tightened the norms for cutting of trees in the district.

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The authority has said it will give permission for felling of trees only in extreme cases keeping in mind the public interest. Permission will not be given to individuals to cut live trees.

Due to several construction and other infrastructural developments in the past one decade, the number of trees in the district has reduced to 1.32 lakh from around 3 lakh in 1999.

The forest area has also decreased by 240 hectares to 9,268 hectares, a department official said.

“We will not be giving permission for cutting of trees to anyone because if not stopped now, soon Gurgaon will have no trees. Only the trees which are dead, fallen or dry will be allowed to be cut. Permission can also be given in case of major developmental projects such as widening of roads,” a senior official in the forest official said.