Form rules to make govt nod mandatory for felling over 50 trees: Karnataka Forest Minister

Bengaluru: Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Monday directed officials to formulate new rules which make it mandatory for any proposal involving felling of more than 50 trees to get approval from the government.

The development comes days after activists launched a campaign to oppose the proposal to fell 368 old trees in Bengaluru Cantonment Railway Colony to make way for commercial development of the land.

In a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, Khandre pointed to a letter by former MLA A T Narayanaswamy opposing the tree felling proposal.

"Formulate rules so that any proposal involving felling of more than 50 trees shall be brought to the notice of the forest minister and get approval from the government before giving clearance," the letter said.

Till November 2020, the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike used to conduct public hearings for proposals that involved felling 50 trees or above. However, it was discontinued by citing that the law and a related high court order do not mandate hearing but a public notice. Since then, citizens can only oppose the proposals by writing to the officials.

In 2022, the government issued an order ending the jurisdiction of the Forest Department on trees in BBMP limits, save reserved trees like rosewood, teak and sandalwood. As a result, the DCF, BBMP, reports to the BBMP chief commissioner rather than the head of the forest department, a clear case of conflict of interest.