Deodar tree felled despite ban

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 26

Another about 100-year-old green deodar tree was felled in Dharamkot area yesterday evening despite a ban on felling of green trees by the Himachal High Court. The sources here said that the tree was felled near Gagan Resorts in Dharamkot area. It was felled yesterday night. The entire wood of the tree was cleared from the area and just stump was visible at the place.

The sources here said that the tree was felled with the permission of the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra. The permission was given on the pretext that it was dead and drying tree that posed a threat to property and life of the locals.

However, the green branches of the felled tree tell a different story. They illustrate that the felled tree was green and healthy. Since there was no building in its vicinity, it did not pose any threat to life and property.

The Himachal High Court took suo moto notice of a complaint filed by Gazalla Abdullah, a resident of McLeodganj regarding the illegal felling of green deodar trees in the area. The court later stayed all the permissions given by the deputy commissioners in the state for felling of trees on the pretext that they were posing threat to property and life of individuals in municipal council areas of the state. As per the court order the felling of the said tree yesterday was illegal, the sources here said.

A committee of revenue, police, municipal council and forest officials was formed in Dharamsala to probe the allegations of illegal felling of deodar trees in Dharamsala municipal council area. The committee found out that a large numbers of trees were felled with and without the permission from the office of Deputy Commissioner Kangra. The report was submitted in the Himachal High Court.

In the recent past, the amicus curie appointed by the Himachal High Court in the case also visited Dharamsala for spot verification of the allegations regarding illegal felling of trees.

Despite the fact that the court has ordered a ban on felling of green trees and officials of the district are booking people who had felled trees illegally, the recent felling of the old green deodar tree has come as a surprise for many.