Even as the State government is spending crores of rupees in campaigning for the enhancement of green cover, indiscriminate felling of trees has been going on for years in Guntur. The city, one of the oldest municipalities in the State, used to boast a large tree cover along the wide spacious Ring Road, but the green cover is fast disappearing due to rapid urbanization. Huge trees dotting the main roads are being felled using machinery by people owning commercial establishments, while some individuals are resorting to cutting of trees as a precautionary measure in times of heavy rains.
On Wednesday, the Guntur Municipal Corporation booked a police case against a man who felled a tree on Arundelpet 6th lane.
WALTA Act
But now thanks to a spirited crusade by a tree lover who is also park supervisor, GMC, JV Prasad, the civic body is all set to take action through the Water Land and Trees Act, 2002. Municipal Commissioner C. Anuradha said GMC would implement the WALTA Act, 2012 here and would take tough action against the violators.
She that people would have to apply in the citizen charter to remove trees under Form 13, section 28, rule 24 of WALTA Act. The GMC would in turn give permission in form no 14.
