Mumbai: ‘Bring back harsh fines for felling trees,' says environmentalist

According to Stalin, deforestation is taking place both in urban and rural areas. Representation Pic/Ashish Raje

City-based environmentalist Stalin Dayanand has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding that the penalty for the illegal felling of trees be increased from the present amount of Rs 1000, as well as the reintroduction of a proposed amendment to the Maharashtra Felling of Trees (Regulation) Act, 1964. A bill, which sought to increase the penalty for the illegal felling of trees from Rs 1000 to Rs 50,000, was withdrawn by the state government in December last year.

According to the environmentalist, the reason for writing the letter was to draw attention to the rampant destruction of forests and trees across Maharashtra. Stalin claimed that he had filed numerous complaints about deforestation in various parts of the state, adding, "We [Maharashtra] will never even attain a 22 per cent forest cover, let alone 33 per cent, if things continue this way."

Stalin said checks and balances should have been put in place before withdrawal of the bill. Representation Pic/Ashish Raje

"As you are well aware, the bill to amend the Maharashtra Felling of Trees (Regulation) Act of 1964, which proposed to increase the penalty for illegal felling of trees to R50,000, was withdrawn by you in December 2024. Now, the penalty for axing a tree is a measly Rs 1000. This has boosted illegal tree felling, and across the state, deforestation is taking place both in urban and rural areas," said Stalin.

"Do you believe the value of a tree is only Rs 1000? If you had brought in some checks and balances before the withdrawal of the bill, it would have helped save the forests and trees. But now it has become a joke, and hardly anyone is fearful about cutting trees. We request you to do a reality check and order a survey to understand how this meagre penalty has opened the floodgates across the state for the destruction of trees. Please order a scientific study to understand the minimum ecological and economic value of a tree. This figure may be used as a benchmark to set a penalty for illegal felling of trees," he added.

The environmentalist has requested the chief minister to bring back the bill and make the penalty a sum which "acts as a deterrent and not as a motivation for those who fell trees". Stalin also said that Maharashtra was grappling with severe heat waves and rising temperatures, and so it was important to avoid recklessly felling trees. "We hope you will take steps to prevent the slaughter of trees, which is happening without the fear of the law since the law itself has been crippled by you," the activist stated.