JMC Operationalises Tree Authorities
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: 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 ‘Tree Authority’ which empowers JMC to grant permission for cutting trees in Jammu along with other powers.
“Delhi, Mumbai, Puna are among few Corporations having such an authority,” informed Mayor Rajinder Sharma. Incidentally the resolution for Tree Authority was introduced by Rajinder Sharma when he was a Councillor in the Local Body and today the authority has been operationalised when he is Mayor and chaired its first meeting today. Earlier whenever someone has to cut a tree he/she had to visit the offices of DFO but now such people may meet their Councillor who will in turn talk to the concerned Tree Officer. 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 raise problems of clearing it but the Tree Authority shall now solve this issue too and one can even sell the wood of the fallen tree. Divisional Forest Officer, Social Forestry Jammu shall function as Tree Officer while the Authority will be headed by Mayor as Chairman and will have four members including Deputy Mayor, JMC Commissioner, Divisional Forest Officer, Urban Forestry Division, Jammu and District Horticulture Officer, Jammu. “Records of trees in the city shall now also be maintained by this 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.