Punjab Enacts Comprehensive Law for Urban Tree Protection and Reforestation

The Punjab Protection of Trees Act, 2025, a new legislative instrument, was enacted to regulate the felling and replanting of trees across urban areas of Punjab, coming into force immediately upon its publication. This Act superseded the Punjab Trees Preservation Policy, 2024, which was simultaneously repealed. The legislation was introduced with the stated objective of maintaining green cover, ensuring ecological balance, preventing environmental pollution, and conserving soil within the state.

The Act extends its purview to all urban areas of Punjab, encompassing regions within the limits of Nagar Councils, Municipal Corporations, Notified Area Committees, and Town Area Committees, as detailed in Schedule III of the Act. It imposes a general restriction on felling, cutting, removing, or disposing of any tree in these urban areas, unless specifically permitted by the Act or its rules. A "tree" is defined as any woody plant with a trunk girth of not less than thirty-five centimeters at ground level. However, the Act does not apply to certain areas, including forests, wildlife areas, cantonments, paramilitary and defense agency campuses, and lands notified under the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900, as well as specific exempted tree species listed in Schedule II, such as Bamboo, Eucalyptus, Poplar, and various horticultural species.

Permission to fell or remove trees must be sought from a designated Tree Officer, an Executive Officer in Urban local bodies or another notified officer. Applications are to be decided within thirty days for felling requests and seven days for dead or fallen trees. If the Tree Officer fails to render a decision within the stipulated period, permission is deemed to have been granted. The Act provides for an appeal mechanism, allowing any person aggrieved by a Tree Officer's decision to make a representation to an Appellate Authority within thirty days. Crucially, permission is not required if a tree poses a danger to a person or property, for exempted tree species, or during exigencies such as floods, storms, or other natural or man-made calamities, though in such cases, the concerned agency must inform the Tree Officer within 24 hours.

The legislation provided: “With a view to maintaining green cover for ensuring ecological balance, preventing pollution of environment and conserving the soil, it is considered necessary to regulate the felling and replanting of trees in the State of Punjab.” This core intent underscores the policy rationale behind the Act, aiming to address environmental degradation and promote sustainable urban development. A significant obligation introduced by the Act is that any person granted permission to fell a tree must plant and tend two new trees in its place, ideally in the same area. Should land constraints or other issues arise, the Tree Officer may permit fewer trees, planting in a different location, or the deposit of an equivalent sum into the State treasury for plantation purposes. Failure to comply with this replanting obligation within three months can result in a fine of up to Rupees five thousand for the first offence, escalating to Rupees fifty thousand for continuous non-compliance. Furthermore, illegal felling or contravention of permission conditions incurs an environmental compensation, as notified by the State Government, along with a penalty of up to Rupees ten thousand per tree.

The Act strengthens the legal framework for environmental protection in Punjab's urban areas, moving from a policy-based approach to a statutory one. It aims to fill previous gaps by providing clear procedures, enforcement mechanisms, and penalties. The provisions of this Act are intended to be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other existing laws regulating tree felling. Officers exercising powers under this Act are deemed public servants, and acts done in good faith are indemnified. The State Government retains the power to exempt additional areas or tree species from the Act's provisions through notification in the Official Gazette, based on public interest considerations.

Keywords: Punjab, Tree Protection, Environmental Law, Urban Green Cover, Tree Felling Regulations, Reforestation, Ecological Balance, Environmental Compensation, Tree Officer, Punjab Government

Geo Tags: Country: India, State: Punjab District: Not Applicable