Chandigarh: The Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Wednesday approved the Punjab Protection of Trees Bill, which proposes that anyone cutting a tree must plant 10 saplings in its place. The Bill is aimed at regulating the felling, removal and transplantation of trees in urban and other non-forest areas and is expected to be introduced during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Punjab Assembly.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the proposed legislation also provides for penalties and environmental compensation for illegal tree felling. A first violation will attract a fine of ₹10,000, a second offence ₹35,000, and a third offence ₹50,000.
The Bill has been drafted following directions from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which asked the Punjab government to enact a dedicated law to regulate tree felling in urban areas. Officials said agroforestry and commercially grown farm tree species will remain outside the scope of the legislation to ensure farmers are not discouraged from plantation.
According to the India State of Forest Report, Punjab has the country’s lowest forest cover at 3.67%. Even after including trees outside forests, the state’s combined forest and tree cover stands at 12.58%, well below the National Forest Policy target of 33%.
The Cabinet also approved the Punjab State Outsourced Personnel (Transition to Contractual Engagement) Bill, which aims to pave the way for regularising the services of around 65,000 outsourced employees. Cheema said the government had earlier opted for an ordinance route, but it did not receive the Governor’s approval. He added that the Bill, being a money Bill, requires the Governor’s prior recommendation before being introduced in the Assembly.
In addition, the Cabinet approved the establishment of three self-financed private digital universities—one in Hoshiarpur and two in Patiala. It also cleared the Punjab Regulation of Fees of Private Unaided Educational Institutions Bill, which will be tabled during the ongoing Assembly session.
