JMC operationalises ‘Tree Authority’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 25: In a latest development JMC has registered itself in the list of few Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country as today it has operationalised the much awaited ‘Tree Authority’ which empowers JMC to grant permissions for cutting trees in Jammu along with certain penal provisions for violations of the set norms.
An order of J&K government in this regard stated that Divisional Forest Officer, Social Forestry Jammu shall function as ‘Tree Officer’ while the Tree Authority will be headed by JMC Mayor as Chairman and the Authority will have four members including Deputy Mayor, JMC Commissioner, Divisional Forest Officer, Urban Forestry Division, Jammu and District Horticulture Officer, Jammu.
“Delhi, Mumbai, Poona are among few Corporations in the country having such an authority,” informed Mayor, Rajinder Sharma.
It is pertinent to mention here that the resolution for ‘Tree Authority’ was introduced by Rajinder Sharma when he was a Councillor in Urban Local Body and today the authority has been operationalised and the Mayor chaired its first meeting.
Earlier whenever someone has to cut a tree, he/she had to visit the offices of forest authorities but now such people have only to meet their Councillor who will in turn talk to the concerned Tree Officer in this regard.
This will shorten the lengthy process used to be there earlier and will increase transparency as trimming, cutting of the tree shall now be having limited and hassle-free office works.
Rajinder Sharma said that earlier when some tree used to fall due to storms it used to create problems but now the Tree Authority shall now solve such issues also and one can even sell the wood of the fallen trees after getting nod from the Tree Authority.
“Records of trees in the city shall now be maintained by the Tree Authority and apart from this soon we will distribute plants of hybrid apple, developed by the agri-scientists,” the Mayor said adding that such apple trees shall be preferred in arid areas and these can even give fruits in deserts.
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