No trees felled illegally around high court complex: Forest department

Panaji: The deputy conservator of forests has denied any illegal tree felling around the high court complex at Penha de Franca.
Responding to a PIL alleging large-scale deforestation on the cliff surrounding the HC premises, deputy conservator of forests Nandakumar Parab said that the only plausible explanation for any reduced tree cover is the coinciding factors of the deciduous nature of trees during summer and the clearing of climber/bush vegetation.
After permission for felling 290 trees was granted in 2014 for the high court complex, no further permissions for felling were sought, and no other instances of tree felling took place, he submitted.
In March, HC Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Mahesh Sonak directed an immediate halt to all deforestation until further orders in the land parcels around the HC complex.
The registrar (administration) of the HC had written to the principal chief conservator of forests on two occasions, in Jan and Feb.
The letter said that people attending the HC, including advocates and judges, noticed many trees being cut in the recent past on the lands adjacent to the high court complex. Fire incidents on the land parcels had also been reported, the registrar said.
The tree officer, in response to the first letter, said that since climber vegetation has largely covered the canopy of the standing trees, their dried leaves may be visible once the climbers are cut at the bottom. The combined effect of cutting/drying of climber vegetation, as well as the deciduous nature of certain trees during summer, may have raised concerns about the destruction of tree cover, the officer said. But the greenery is expected to return during the monsoon, the officer added.
The tree officer further said that the range forest officer is keeping vigil.
In Feb, the registrar again wrote to the principal chief conservator of forests, stating that incidents of cutting/felling of trees are still ongoing on the lands.
The tree officer responded by saying that bush clearing and climber cutting were carried out. No instance of tree cutting was observed, the officer said, adding that strict vigil will be kept to ensure no trees are felled on the site.
Deputy conservator of forests Parab submitted to the HC that the petitioners relied only on satellite imagery, questioned the petitioner’s bona fides, and said the PIL ought to be disregarded in its entirety.
The petitioner, Ganpat Sidhaye, through his advocate Rohit Bras de Sa, submitted photographic and videographic material to the court in support of the petition.