Maharashtra Assembly passes bill empowering local tree authorities to allow felling of trees in all cases

A tree authority does not only decide on tree felling but also on tree conservation, the minister said.

The Maharashtra legislative assembly on Friday passed a bill empowering local tree authorities to allow the felling of all types of trees without referring matters to the State Tree Authority.

While the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) questioned the rationale behind the amendment, the ruling BJP accused the Uddhav Thackeray-led party of opposing development.

The bill amended the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975. It is yet to be passed by the legislative council.

Under the existing law, applications for cutting down more than two hundred trees which are five years or older and heritage trees are referred by the local (municipal) tree authority to the Maharashtra State Tree Authority.

As per the amendment, local tree authorities can grant permission in all cases on their own.

While introducing the bill, the government said facilitating the ease of doing business is one of the best ways to promote development and attract investors.

The Union government is constantly promoting the ease of doing business through decentralization of powers, by reducing the number of permits required and granting permissions within stipulated timeframes in various areas, the state government said.