Haryana Government to Consider Waiver for Tree Cutting Permit on Urban Land for Development Projects

The Haryana government has proposed a policy that could simplify the process of tree cutting on urban land acquired or allotted by government bodies for residential, industrial, or infrastructure development. Under the new proposal, the need for permission from the forest department to fell trees would be waived in urban areas, which has traditionally been a requirement.

Currently, any tree cutting on non-forest land requires approval from the forest department. However, the new policy aims to supersede previous orders related to tree cutting outside forest areas, even if these lands fall under the provisions of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) of 1900. The government also plans to form a committee to finalize the policy and review compensation measures for illegal tree felling.

The policy intends to protect indigenous plants of ecological importance, including peepal, bargard, gulhar, pilkhan, khejari, barna, krishan kadam, jaal, and rohida. However, trees like eucalyptus, poplar, bakayan, ullu neem, sahtoot, amrood, bamboo, subabool, and mesquite would be exempt from the requirement for permission if they are located outside forest areas. Additionally, unproductive fruit trees in orchards can be removed without permission if farmers wish to replace them with high-density, high-yielding varieties.

The new policy will also affect tree cutting on privately owned land. While authorization from divisional forest officers (DFOs) will still be required for tree cutting in private properties, trees such as eucalyptus, poplar, bakayan, and ullu neem would not need permission for removal.

Subhash Yadav, the Chief Conservator of Forests in South Haryana, stated that the new policy is a proactive step towards sustainable environmental management. "It aims to protect the state's natural heritage while facilitating urban growth," Yadav said. The government had previously set a goal in 2006 to achieve a 20% forest and tree cover but has yet to meet that target.

Recent data from the Forest Survey of India revealed a worrying trend, with Haryana’s forest cover decreasing by 13.9 square kilometers between 2021 and 2023. Gurgaon, a major urban center, now has a forest cover of 113.1 square kilometers. Between 2018 and 2019, 8.2% of Haryana's geographical area underwent desertification, and urban areas like Gurgaon and Faridabad have seen rapid expansion to accommodate housing, business, and infrastructure development.

In Gurgaon, for example, 5,000 trees were felled to make way for flyovers and underpasses on NH-8 in 2017, and in the following year, approval was granted to remove 10,000 trees to widen Sohna Road.

Unlike Delhi, which has the Tree Preservation Act of 1994 to regulate tree cutting, Haryana does not have a similar law. The Delhi Act mandates that anyone who cuts a tree must plant 10 saplings and deposit Rs 34,500 with the forest department. While such legislation has been discussed in Haryana, it has not been enacted.

Environmental experts have raised concerns that the new policy could have adverse effects on Haryana's tree cover. Forest analyst Chetan Aggarwal noted, "It appears that the policy is designed to deregulate tree cutting in urban areas." Despite these concerns, the government has started issuing heritage tags for trees over 75 years old under the Pran Vayu Devta program. These trees receive financial support for conservation.

So far, 3,876 trees across Haryana have received heritage status. Furthermore, the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) is developing a mobile app to help plant growers document the trees on their land and assess their carbon sequestration potential. Carbon sequestration helps mitigate climate change by reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

Haryana's new policy on tree felling for urban development aims to streamline the process but may impact the state's tree cover. A careful balance between development and environmental preservation will be crucial as the policy is finalized.