Adopt a garden, get tax sops………Sandeep Ashar
State proposes perks for adopting gardens and a ban on private tree cutting
Now there’s another reason to think green. The state urban development department (UDD) has plans to offer tax breaks to corporate institutions, industries and charitable trusts adopting and maintaining gardens in the city. Also, schools that go green and maintain open space could be considered for additional grants.
The state department has recommended these measures in a draft document on amendments to be made in the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975. DNA has a copy of the draft, which will be tabled for discussion at the meeting of the Civic Tree Authority on Friday.
Government sources indicated that the perks offered will be in proportion to the income spent for the garden’s maintenance. To boost the city’s green quotient (GQ), the UDD has further advocated inclusion of tree plantation in town planning. This means that if the draft gets approved, new road developments taken up in the city will have to leave adequate space for tree plantations at the margins. It has also been decided to reserve government-owned hilly areas for mass tree plantations.
Ban on pvt tree cutting proposed
Faced with scores of complaints of illegal and indiscriminate tree cutting, the UDD has proposed to ban private tree cutting. The amendment states that only ‘an approved panel of contractors’ will be allowed to carry out works of plantation, removal and cutting of trees. The state also plans to give annual awards to cities, wards, offices, and schools among others that support the ‘Go Green’ initiative.
Tree census every 10 years
The state has decided to carry out tree census every 10 years instead of the present norm of five years.
Tree authorities, to be overseen
The state has decided to appoint a five-member panel to hear grievances and oversee work of various tree authorities in the state and suggest policy decision changes.
The panel will be chaired by principal secretary, UDD and comprise representatives from the departments of forest, town planning, municipal administration as members. If Friday’s meeting grants approval to the 21 proposed amendments, the municipal corporation will also be required to formulate an annual plan for tree plantations.
UDD sources said the plan and the performance of the tree authorities in the state will be reviewed periodically by the panel.
New definition of a ‘tree’
What comprises a tree? While the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975 does not make any distinction between a seedling, a sapling or a fully grown tree, the proposed amendment defines a tree as a perennial woody plant having a main trunk, a distinct crown with a girth of at least 10 cm and a height of 3m. In the draft amendments, even injuring a tree will amount to felling of a tree.
Modified rule boon or bane?
A regulation, which required those permitted to fell trees for development work in an area to plant adequate number of trees in the same areas, has been modified. Trees could now be hacked at one site, and their substitute planted some place far off. Nandkumar Naik of the ‘Friends of Trees’ said this would allow trees to be hacked in prime areas and plantations to be carried out in secluded areas.