RT-164: Tree Cutting – Visakhapatnam District – Permission to cut and transport of Teak and Non- Teak trees lying in the Patta lands of the Tribal farmers, duly relaxing Rule 8 of AP Preservation of Private Forest Rules, 1978 - Accorded- Orders issued.

GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH ABSTRACT Tree Cutting – Visakhapatnam District – Permission to cut and transport of Teak and Non- Teak trees lying in the Patta lands of the Tribal farmers, duly relaxing Rule 8 of AP Preservation of Private Forest Rules, 1978 - Accorded- Orders issued. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (FOR.I) DEPARTMENT. G.O.Rt.No. 164 Dated:03-04-2012. Read the following:- 1. G.O.Rt.No. 450/EFS& T (For.I) Department Dated 27.08.2010 2. G.O.Rt.No. 449/EFS& T (For.I) Department Dated 26.08.2010 3. G.O.Rt.No. 528/EFS& T (For.I) Department Dated 20.10.2010 4. G.O.Rt.No. 478/EFS& T (For.I) Department Dated 17.09.2010 5. G.O.Rt.No. 157/EFS& T (For.I) Department Dated 20.04.2010 6. G.O.Rt.No. 419/EFS& T (For.I) Department Dated 14.09.2011 7. Representation of the Scheduled Tribe Ryots of Visakhapatnam District received through Hon’ble M (FES&T) Endst. No. 44/M (FES&T)/2012, dated: 1.2.2012. 8. From PCCF, AP, Hyderabad Lr Rc No.39493/2009/FM-2, Dated. 6-3-2012 ***** ORDER: In the references 1st to 6th read above, Government have issued orders permitting the District Collector, Visakhapatnam to allow the applicants to cut and transport of Teak and Non- Teak trees which are having more than 120 Cms girth, from the respective Patta lands, subject to payment of Security Deposit of 10% of value of produce by the applicants with the Divisional Forest Officer. 2. In the letter 7th read above, the Scheduled Tribe Ryots of Visakhapatnam District have represented to the Government stating that the Government have issued certain orders permitting certain individual tribal farmers to cut and transport certain Teak and Non- Teak trees. They also stated that the cutting permission was already given by the District Collector by collecting 10% of the value of the trees as security deposit. When they started felling, Forest Officials in Visakhapatnam District have objected and informed that the Forest Department will cut and transport the trees to Depot and sell it and pay the value in installments. They have further represented that some of the farmers have already felled the trees in their fields and becoming difficult to protect them from theft, facing natural calamities and getting damaged badly. The Pattedars have finally requested the Government to issue suitable instructions to permit them to cut and transport the trees for which permissions / orders were already accorded by the Government and by the District Collector, Visakhapatnam respectively, by simplifying the procedure, if necessary, duly amending the existing rules, keeping in view the difficulties expressed by them. 3. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad in his letter 8th read above, has recommended that the Government may examine the request of the farmers and issue necessary orders to issue transport permits by the Forest Department to the farmers for transportation of the material to the extent already cut and lying in their patta lands without treating as precedence. The procedure as prescribed under the Act may be followed for the remaining trees which are not cut so far. Contd..2.:: 2 :: 4. Government after careful examination of the representations of the Tribal farmers, and the report of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad hereby accord permission for cutting and transportation of all the trees for which permissions were already accorded by Government in the 6 GOs i.e. references 1st to 6th read above, duly relaxing the procedure laid down in Rule 8 of AP Preservation of Private Forest Rules, 1978 in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 28 B (3) of AP Forest Act, 1967. 5. The exemption granted above, shall not be quoted as a precedent in future by any others. 6. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad is directed to take further necessary action in the matter. (BY ORDER AND IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNOR OF ANDHRA PRADESH) M. SAMUEL, SPECIAL CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT. To The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad. Copy to The District Collector, Visakhapatnam – for information and necessary action. The P.S. to M (FES&T). SC/SF //FORWARDED :: BY ORDER// SECTION OFFICER.