Tree Felling in Kanataka is governed by the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976. Section 8 (1) of the act states:

With effect on and from the appointed day, notwithstanding any custom, usage, contract or law for the time being in force, no person shall fell any tree or cause any tree to be felled in any land, whether in his ownership or occupancy or otherwise, except with the previous permission of the Tree Officer

Thus, whether the tree is in private land or government land, the permission of the Tree Officer is essential before a tree is cut.

On what grounds can a tree be cut?

The Act says that permission to cut a tree cannot be refused if the tree –

(i) is dead, diseased or wind-fallen; or

(ii) has silviculturally matured; or

(iii) constitutes a danger to life or property; or

(iv) constitutes obstruction to traffic; or

(v) is substantially damaged or destroyed by fire, lightning, rain or othernatural causes

Steps to be taken when you see a tree being cut

1) Approach the people cutting the tree and see if they have permission to cut the tree. The permission should be from the Tree Officer, BBMP with the seal of the BBMP and the signature of the Tree Officer

If permission has not been granted

1) Ask the people cutting the tree to stop immediately. Tell them that it is illegal to cut a  tree without permission and that it constitutes a criminal offence. If the tree cutting does not stop do the following

a)Immediately call the Tree Officers office: For BBMP limits, we have two Tree Officers

• Tree officer North:Covers the following zones – Dasarahalli , East Zone, Mahadevpura, Bytarayanapura; Phone: 9480683146; Address: Public Utility Building  17th Floor, M.G. Road, Bangalore-560 001.
• Tree officer South: Covers the following zones – South, West, Bomannahalli, Raja Rajeshwari Nagar; Phone: 080-2657 8423, 94806 83842,9480684641; Address: 2nd floor, BBMP  South Zonal Office,2nd Block,9th Cross Jayanagar, BBMP, Bangalore-560011

In case you cannot reach any numberm call the Deputy Conservator of Forests(DCF) – 9480683145 or the Chief Conservator of forests (CCF) – 080-22975707. 

Inform the Tree Officers Office of what is happening, mention the exact address and the tree being cut. Ask them to send their staff immediately.  

b) Inform the local police station that a tree is being cut without permission, and that since it is a criminal offence under the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, the police should immediately act on the same.

If you are not able to reach the Tree Officer or the Police station, call the BBMP Control Room – 080-22221188 / 080-22975595 /080-22225657 and inform them of the same. Also call your local corporator and inform her/him of the same and request action.

Take a photo and or/video of the same and send it any media people you know. Also submit  a complaint to the Tree Officer’s office at the earliest and take an acknowledgment of the complaint.

If permission has been granted

If you feel the permission has been granted improperly (see above for valid grounds to cut a tree) , then immediately call the following office – CCF, BBMP – 080-22975707 and mention the same to them. Ask them to take action immediately and cancel the permission.

If the above does not work, you inform the media and share with them photographs and /or video of the tree cutting.

Also pursue the matter to by filing an appeal against the permission, by filing an appeal with the Tree Authority, BBMP, by giving a letter to the BBMP Commissioner and or Mayor, who are to chair the authority, marking the copy to the CCF and to the Tree Officer.

 Compensatory Planting

While nothing can fully compensate the felling of a full grown tree, the        least that can be       done is follow the law in terms of compensatory planning.

The Tree Preservation act says –

Where permission to fell a tree is granted, the Tree Officer may grant it subject to the condition that the applicant shall plant another tree or trees of the same or any other suitable species on the same site or other suitable place within thirty days from the date the tree is felled or within such extended time as the Tree Officer may allow. 

If you know of a place where permission was legally and rightly granted for felling a tree, please ensure the above is taken care of.

For more details contact : hu.bangalore@gmail.com

Issued in Public Interest by ‘Hasiru Usiru’, C/O Environment Support Group, 1572, 36th Cross,(Opp Ashwini Apartments ) 100 Feet Ring Road, Banashankari II Stage, Bangalore 560070