Mugdha Das

Meghalaya HC issues directions on felling of trees

Digital Desk: The Meghalaya High Court recently ordered the State Authorities to require all applicants who have submitted applications under the Meghalaya Tree Preservation Rules, 1976, for the felling of trees in the Lower New Colony area, Laitumkhrah, to provide an explanation of how these trees "have become dangerous to life and property." This is a significant development that involves biodiversity and the contentious issue of development at the expense of local biodiversity.

The division bench, which included Chief Justice I. P. Mukerji and Justice W. Diengdoh, also issued several directives, one of which was that the State authorities check the land and the tree or trees there before deciding to cut down a tree.

This directive involving the Meghalaya High Court comes amid the High Court hearing a PIL seeking directions to prevent illegal or irregular felling of trees in the Lower New Colony area, Laitumkhrah in Meghalaya.

The State respondents were instructed by the Meghalaya High Court in its February 7 judgment to submit an affidavit by February 28 outlining all ongoing applications for tree-felling in the aforementioned area.

The Meghalaya High Court also ordered that those applications be handled in accordance with the Meghalaya Tree (Preservation) Act 1976 and the Meghalaya Tree (Preservation) Rules, 1976.

Meanwhile, the hearing into this crucial matter has been listed for hearing on April 9 by the Meghalaya High Court.