PANJIM: The carpenters from Benaulim have appealed to the State government not to hike the security deposit towards replantation for cutting tree and to retain it at Rs 200 per tree.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas on Friday submitted a letter to the Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane on behalf of the carpenters and requested the Minister to waive off tree felling and security deposit towards replantation fee hike.
The Forest Minister assured the Benaulim MLA that he would look into the matter and resolve it.
The Forest Department has now increased the security deposit for tree cutting from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 per tree. This has been done so as to ensure replantation of a tree in lieu of a cut one.
The State government has notified an amendment to the Rule 6A of the Goa Preservation of Trees Rules, 1983, increasing the deposit amount to Rs 1,000 per tree. Only after a new tree is planted in lieu of the one cut, the deposit would be refunded.
The State government in July 2022 amended Section 22 of the Goa Preservation of Trees Act so as to increase quantum of the compounding fee with a view to make it more deterrent and also considering the increase in the market value of timber/produce over the years.
