📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Railways
Agriculture
Haryana to enforce stricter tree law, mandating 10 saplings per felled tree
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 07 Nov 2026, 08:15 AM
👁 55
The Haryana government has drafted a stricter tree protection bill that will require planting ten saplings for every tree that is cut down, aiming to curb deforestation.
The state cabinet has approved a proposal to tighten existing tree‑protection regulations. Under the draft, any individual or organization that removes a tree will be required to plant ten saplings in the same area or at a location specified by the forest department.
Officials say the move is aimed at halting the steady loss of green cover across Haryana, a trend documented through recent satellite observations. The draft also outlines penalties for non‑compliance, including monetary fines and possible imprisonment.
Environmental NGOs have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a necessary step toward sustainable land‑use planning. The bill is expected to be debated in the state legislature in the coming weeks, after which it could be enacted into law.
Officials say the move is aimed at halting the steady loss of green cover across Haryana, a trend documented through recent satellite observations. The draft also outlines penalties for non‑compliance, including monetary fines and possible imprisonment.
Environmental NGOs have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a necessary step toward sustainable land‑use planning. The bill is expected to be debated in the state legislature in the coming weeks, after which it could be enacted into law.