‘HC order on tree felling a relief for people’

Staff Correspondent

Shillong, June 21: The Meghalya High Court’s interim decision to allow the department of Forest and Environment to cut down trees that could endanger human lives and property has come in as a big reprieve. In view of the consistent predictions of heavy rains in the state and the August 2017 incident in the mind where a massive decaying tree at Raj Bhawan and killed three persons, talks doing the rounds is whether the department concerned has completed its audit to prevent similar mishaps.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) CB Marak told The Sentinel on Thursday that the audit in and around Shillong city has been completed but no action pertaining to cutting down of trees could be carried out due a pending litigation in the court. However, he said, based on the interim order of the court, a latitude was given by the court to allow the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) to carry on with the felling of trees that are endangering human lives and property.