Stop, don’t cut down the tree!

FAQ on when trees can be cut and what to do when you see a tree felled illegally.

On occasions, trees are felled to facilitate road widening or if there in the way of infrastructure projects. Very often, trees are cut illegally and without permission.

So when can trees be cut?

If a tree is part of a private property and belongs to a select species, it can be felled, according to the Karnataka Preservation of Trees (Amendment) Act, 1987.

For trees on public or private property, it is necessary to obtain written permission from the concerned Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Tree Officer, Bangalore Urban Division. (Ph: 23344686, 23343464).

In addition, two tree saplings must be planted before cutting the tree, even if the tree is inside a private property. As per a Supreme court order, this is a prerequisite to granting the permission.

What to do when you see trees being cut?

If you suspect a tree being felled without permission or unnecessarily, contact BBMP’s, helplines  22221188 / 22975595 / 22210031-35.

If it’s a forest area, call the forest department’s mobile squad’s 24 hour number at 2334-4672.

To report tree falling, you can also reach BESCOM – IVRS – 12660 / 22267118 / 22267119 / 22267180 (24 Hour customer complaint cell)

For more details on reporting tree felling, refer Environment Support Group’s (ESG).   ⊕

Comments:

  1. Abhijeet says:

    None of the numbers listed are helpful. Some say that you have reached the wrong department, others have employed illiterate people who cannot converse in either Hindi or English.

    I wanted to report a tree being cut in Indiranagar but so much for trying.

    Where are there several different numbers? why cannot the various departments have a single helpline number like everywhere else in the developed world?

  2. Abhijeet says:

    Correction, line 5: Why are there several different numbers?*

  3. Abhijeet says:

    I made someone talk to people on these numbers in Kanada but no one wishes to help! They all keep saying this is not the right department and keep giving another number to call.

    Very disappointed.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

Status check: Key concerns remain as Chennai moves ahead with WTE plans

Greater Chennai Corporation's tender for the Waste-To-Energy plant is at the final stage; Here is what we know about the bidders

17,422 metric tonnes per day — that's the staggering amount of trash the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will generate in 30 years. Currently, Chennai produces 6,143 metric tonnes of waste daily, which adds to the growing piles in Kodungaiyur and Perungudi dump yards. Like many other major cities, GCC is struggling to find a sustainable solution for waste management and has proposed a Waste-To-Energy (WTE) plant. However, the experiences of cities like Delhi are testimony to the significant environmental and health impacts of WTE plants. A recent The New York Times investigative report on the Delhi WTE reveals: "The government…

Similar Story

Flooded lands, disappearing birds: Pallikaranai wetland tour highlights impact of shrinking lakes

A vital wetland, Pallikaranai has shrunk drastically due to urbanisation, threatening biodiversity and vulnerable communities in Chennai.

Many of us who have lived in Chennai for years have probably crossed Pallikaranai Marshland at least once. Yet, we often overlook that we are passing through an area that was once ecologically rich and a haven for diverse species. But the marshland, one of the few coastal aquatic habitats in India to qualify as a wetland, is now just a shadow of its former self. Unchecked encroachments and rampant urbanisation have drastically reduced the catchment area of Pallikaranai Marsh. With the Northeast monsoon bringing rains to Chennai, residents are increasingly concerned about flooding. Experts point out that rejuvenating the…