PANJIM: In a significant order the Bombay High Court at Goa has ordered the revival of the Tree Authority and to conduct a tree census of both the districts of the State within a year.
The court had expressed its shock after learning that the Tree Authority has not been functioning at all since its constitution in 2012.
“We’re also quite shocked that they don’t have any information since 2012 and we’ll inquire into it,” said a Division Bench of Justice M S Sonak and Justice M S Jawalkar. The court has directed the State to comply with all the provisions related to the duties of the authority under the Goa, Daman and Diu Preservation of Trees Act.
“Discharge all the duties under Section 7 of the Act,” the court ordered.
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Living Heritage Foundation that had sought for the revival of the tree authority and carrying out a tree census among other pleas. Advocate for the petitioners, Sreeja Chakraborty pointed out that even though the authority is required to meet once every three months, they have never met since 2012 to decide on tree conservation policies and issues.
The Advocate General appearing for the State submitted that the Tree Authority has been revived following the filing of the petition.
Moreover, the court observed that since there are no experts in the Tree Authority, it would be advisable to co-opt experts who may be inducted according to the provisions of the Act. The judges observed that the existing authority comprised only of IAS officers, Secretaries and MLAs. Considering the manner in which they have failed to function, consider getting experts, the judge said.
The court has also given the State four months time to update the Forest Department website and make all the information available including those of tree felling. Put all the possible information on the website as per Section 4 of the RTI Act, the court said.
The court also called for status and compliance reports from time to time. The court told the Advocate General to see to it that it functions.
“They will have to show us they’re really doing something about this,” the court said while disposing of the petition.
