Forest delhi govt citizen charter
Was discussing with someone on planning a mass tree plantation (Non profit) as a step furthering in towards a better cleaner and greener environment, and got some nice information, which is worth sharing :
CITIZEN'S CHARTER
The Forest Department is extending service in the following fields and by this charter the Department seeks to provide framework and information which enables the public to know about:
Felling and removal of trees anywhere in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Distribution of seedlings free of cost to public
Enforcement of Indian Forest Act,1927 and the remedies available
Enforcement of Wildlife Act,1972 and the remedies available
Applicability of Forest Conservation Act,1980
Enforcement of Tree Preservation Act,1994 an the remedies available
Duties of public in general
Details of above service are :-
A)
FELLING AND REMOVAL OF TREES ANYWHERE IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI.
Permission to fell trees is regulated under provisions of Delhi Tree Preservation Act, 1994, a copy of the same may be obtained from the Government Printing Press.
If a private individual/company wants to fell tree/trees anywhere in Delhi owned by them an application, in Form 'B' has to be made to the Tree Officer, Dy. Conservator of Forests (South/Central/West) and to Conservator of Forests, Delhi. The forms are available with the nearest Forest Office. Licences to fell trees can be given only 1Ha. Area of Khasra No. and only 2 licences can be issued in a year in respect of one property. The permission for felling is deemed to have been granted if no reply is received from the Tree Officer within 60 days. The applications complete in all respect will only be entertained by Tree Officer.
After obtaining permission, the individual/Company should fell the trees within the time limit prescribed in the licences.
If any tree is causing danger to life and property, the owner of the land may fell the tree and report the fact within 24 hours and such intimation should be made in Form 'A'.
It is for each individual and Company to effectively protect all the trees growing in their areas.
Remedies:
a) If an individual/Company is not satisfied with the order passed by the Tree Officer regarding felling permission, he/Company may file an appeal with the (Appellate Authority), within 30 days from the date of order of Tree Officer. The Appellate Authority under the Delhi Preservation of Tree Act is Secretary ( Environment, Forest & Wildlife), Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Delhi Sachivalaya, New Delhi - 110 002.
B) DISTRIBUTION OF SEEDLINGS FREE OF COST TO PUBLIC :
The Forest Department distributes seedlings free of cost to public for the purpose of plantation on any land. The seedlings are available from the following Nurseries:
S.NO.
NAME
PH.NO.
1.
Kamla Nehru Ridge
23923561
2.
Anand Vihar (I.S.B.T.)
22166232
3.
Bhairon Marg, Ring Road
--
4.
Old Yamuna Bridge
--
5.
Hauzrani City Forest, M.B. Road
26561439
6.
Alipur City Forest, Old Seed Farm
27204688
7.
Brar Square Nursery (Nrar Rly. Crossing)
25696875
8.
Phoonth Kalan
25483026
9.
Badli Nursery, Near Rly. Station
--
10.
Najafgarh Forest Nursery, Old B.D.O. Office
--
11.
Karkari Nursery, Najafgarh
--
12.
Devli Pahari Nursery, Behind Sainik Farms
--
13.
Tughlakabad Nursery, Near Shooting Range
26094711
14.
Birla Mandir Nursery
23361879
The saplings of Neem, Jamun, Gulmohar, Kanner, Peepal, Alstonia, Kachnar, Arjun, Bombax, Papri, Philkan, Jungle Jalebi, Kachnar etc., are available at the above nurseries. The department monitors the survival of plantation from the above distributed saplings from the beneficiaries.
C) ENFORCEMENT OF INDIAN FOREST ACT,1927 AND THE REMEDIES AVAILABLE :
Cutting of Tree from the Govt. forest areas is prohibited. The offence is punishable with imprisonment which may exceed 6 months or fine which may extend to Rs. 500/-
However a forest offence under the said Act can be compounded by paying value of forest produce or compensation which may extend to Rs. 10,000 or both.
Any forest area can be constituted as Reserved forest by issue of notification under section 4 of the Act and the individuals having any.
An individual may approach the Forest Settlement Officer, A.D.M. (HQ.), Tis Hazari, Delhi, with their claims for excluding the same in writing.
D) ENFORCEMENT OF WILDLIFE ACT,1972 AND THE REMEDIES AVAILABLE :
Obtaining ownership certificate in respect of possessing any wild animals or its trophy. Under Section 42, the Chief Wildlife Warden may for the purpose of Section 40 issue a certificate of ownership in such form as may be prescribed to any person who in his opinion is under lawful possession of any wild animal or any article trophy, uncured trophy and may wear possible make in the prescribed of identification. In this regard also the person should meet Wildlife Officer, to sort out the matter.
Hunting of Wild animal protected under the act is prohibited.
Trade and possession of articles of wild animals is prohibited under the act.
Act empowers the center & state government to declare any forest area as National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary.
Offences against the wild animal or hunting in the sanctuary or National Park are punishable under the Act. Punishment under the act varies from 6 months to 7 years imprisonment or fine from Rs. 5000/- to Rs. 25000/- or both depending upon the gravity of offence.
Chief Wildlife Warden, Govt. of NCT of Delhi is empowered to implement the provisions of Act within territory of Delhi.
E)
APPLICABILITY OF FOREST CONSERVATION ACT,1980 :
As per the provisions of this Act, no forest can be diverted for non forestry purpose without prior approval of Ministry of Environment & Forest, New Delhi. As per recent interim order of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, an Expert Committee has been set up by the State of National Capital Territory of Delhi to identify forest. The Committee has adopted authority of 250 or more trees per hectare on a continuous area of minimum one hectare for identifying the forests irrespective of ownership. On all such lands provision of Forest (Conservation ) Act, 1980 will be applicable.
F)
ENFORCEMENT OF TREE PRESERVATION ACT,1994 AND THE REMEDIES AVAILABLE :
Felling, removal or disposal of any tree or forest produce in any land whether in his ownership or occupancy or otherwise except with the previous permission of the tree officer is an offence under the Act.
"to fell a tree" with its cognate expression, means serving the trunk from the roots, uprooting severing the trunk from the roots, uprooting the tree and includes bulldozing, cutting, girdling, lopping, pollarding, applying arboricides, burning or damaging a tree in any other manner.
"tree" means any woody plant whose branches spring from and are supported upon a trunk or body and whose trunk or body is not less than five centimeters in diameter at a height of thirty centimeters from the ground level and is not less than one meter in height from the ground level.
Any person who fells a tree on conviction can be punished with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to Rs. 1,000/- or both.
However a forest offence under the said Act can be compounded by paying value of forest produce or compensation which may extend to Rs. 10,000 or both.
G)
DUTIES OF PUBLIC IN GENERAL :
It is the duty by law abiding individual to inform the nearest Forest Officer regarding fires in
C) ENFORCEMENT OF INDIAN FOREST ACT,1927 AND THE REMEDIES AVAILABLE :
Cutting of Tree from the Govt. forest areas is prohibited. The offence is punishable with imprisonment which may exceed 6 months or fine which may extend to Rs. 500/-
However a forest offence under the saidv can be compounded by paying value of forest produce or compensation which may extend to Rs. 10,000 or
