The State government has informed the Meghalaya High Court that the number of trees to be felled in and around the Lower New Colony area in Laitumkhrah ranges from two to 89 as they pose danger to human life and property.
In an affidavit filed before the court the state provided the number of pending applications filed in accordance with Form-1 to Rule 3(1) Meghalaya Tree Preservation Rules, 1976, the number of trees to be felled, the reason cited, inspection and a status report.
The division bench of the division bench of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh while hearing a PIL, seeking its intervention to stop illegal or irregular felling of trees, directed the government that at the moment no tree should be felled unless it is imminently dangerous and would cause substantial damage, even before the court is in a position to hear out the litigation.
The court also directed the State to instruct each and every applicant to append as an annexure to the form, in explanation of the reason: “has become dangerous to life and property” the details of how the tree has become dangerous to life and property. Thereafter, the court said, the state will inspect the property and the tree or trees standing.
“If they do find that a tree “has become dangerous to life and property”, first of all they will try to preserve it by taking appropriate measures like clipping the trunk and branches or chopping a part of it and retaining the rest. Only if that does not suffice, a decision can be taken to fell the tree. Only in case of a tree which is so dangerously situated that danger or damage is imminent, should the respondents fell it immediately,” the court said.
The court said the State will file a report before the next hearing on April 9, 2025.
