T.N. govt. to plant 10 saplings for every palmyra tree cut under unavoidable circumstances

The Tamil Nadu government issued orders that restrict the cutting of Palmyra – Tamil Nadu’s ‘state tree’ is only under inevitable conditions. According to the instructions published last week, at least 10 palmyra saplings should be planted for each Palmyra tree to be cut. A Palmyra tree can only be cut in advance with permission and in the presence of the relevant authorities.

If a Palmyra tree is to be cut under inevitable conditions, individuals/organizations can apply for permission through ‘Uzhavan’ mobile -based application. A regional monitoring committee managed by the Deputy Director of Agriculture shall undertake a field verification and its necessity and submit a report to the monitoring committee at the regional level chaired by the relevant collector.

The Regional Level Committee will allow permission within one month after receiving the application and the decision will be final. “The applicant should only cut the Palmyra tree after receiving permission. When the Palmyra trees are cut, the authorities will be authorized to be available.” Cut trees should only be transported with the necessary communication from the director of horticulture and plantation plants.

The Regional Committee will undertake a field questionnaire containing the relevant village administrative officer and the Deputy Director of Agriculture and will continue a Palmyra Tree registry. The regional committee will also carry out awareness programs on the benefits of Palmyra trees among farmers and the guidelines that have been discontinued only under inevitable conditions. Sessions will be held during Gram Sabha meetings.

In June 1988, Tamil Nadu government declared Palmyra tree as a ‘state tree’. In 2021, the Minister of Agriculture announced that the state government would make permission to get permission to cut Palmyra tree. In December 2021, the state government gave orders to prevent the cutting of Palmyra trees to avoid using it in brick ovens. He allowed the regional collector to examine the requests to cut the tree under inevitable conditions. However, then detailed instructions were not given.

As of 2019-2020, Tamil Nadu Khadi and Village Industries, according to the figures on the Board of Industries, there are about five Crore Palmyra trees in Tamil Nadu. According to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, there are about 10 Crore Palmyra trees in the country and five Crore in the state. Approximately three Lakh farmers are connected to Palmyra trees in the state for their livelihood. Exports of palm products are great in their contribution to the State Exchequer. The Tamil Nadu government has been applying a task to protect the state tree for three years.