A property owner was booked with case under AP WALTA (Andhra Pradesh Water, Land and Tree Act 2002) for felling three trees (gulmohar, fountain and rubber trees) in the municipal area adjacent to his property. The officials on the way to their work found this and booked a case under WALTA. They also want to book a case for damaging government property.
As per the Act, unless it endangers life or property, one can not cut trees or its branches. For this also, permission is to be obtained from District Forest Officer.
The penalties for first offence range from 2-5 times the value of the tree and repeat offence will attract double penalty.
Though I heard about this Act long time ago through one of my colleagues, this is the first time to my knowledge that somebody is slapped with case for tree cutting.
