*Time to change rules* A lot of avoidable damage to life and property can be prevented by timely action. People in olden days used to plant trees to mark and secure property boundaries. Even today they continue with this practice just to harass neighbours The statutes, as of now do not permit cutting of trees, unless it poses risk to life The cumbersome process involves reports of Police and agricultural officer (ZAO) Many a times only the roots are in the owner’s property , but the whole tree is spread over encroaching neighbours space, creating nuisance and yet the owner enjoys easement rights Legally speaking such a request is more than often rejected The argument that the tree is prior to the habitat and that the structure is deliberate move to seem to hold. During rains and wind storms such plants get uprooted causing mindless damage, Besides falling fruits, leaves lead to breakage of tiles, even risk the life of the inhabitants
The rule needs to be changed with immediate effect, such that no owner enjoys the right to the spread of the tree in the neighbour’s yard. Either he has to be bound cut it or the cost recovered from the owner Alternatively any tree planted within 5 meters of the boundary be treated as an offence tree The social forestry planting trees along the roads and National highways is again posing risk to commuters and motorists .Some isolated incidents though have led to death of people, causing accidents, electrocution too. The trimming of the trees along the roads must be undertaken well before the monsoons. The users of electricity, water, telephones are often denied permission by neighbours to traverse through their property for the connection. This needs to be amended too, making it as the right to these services unhindered by any objections Nelson Lopes Chinchinim