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Mysore, June 3- The Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, which was caught in a controversy last year for felling a number of young trees, has been fined Rs. 33,209 for the offence.
This was disclosed to Star of Mysore by Maj. Gen. S.G. Vombatkere (retd.), Convenor of Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), who participated in a discussion in this regard with DCF Dr. R. Raju on May 30, 2002.
During the discussion, the DCF informed MGP that apart from the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, the Deepa House Building Co-operative Society was also fined Rs. 50,000 for cutting down old mango trees.
In both cases, in addition to the fine, the Forest Department also confiscated the felled trees. Hence, people should know that the law does not permit felling trees without valid reason.
Maj. Gen. Vombatkere has stated in a press release that frequent cutting of trees by people was becoming a problem as very often they did not know that it was an offence punishable with a fine and possibility of a jail sentence, from the judge, if the Court is moved by the Forest Department.
'If people knew what action the Forest Department had taken in the past, they would surely not cut trees with the abandon with which they are doing it now,' said the Major General.
Besides being a criminal offence, cutting trees denies shade to people and reduces green cover of the land, he added.
Hotel's reaction
When the hotel was contacted in this regard, it is learnt they received a letter from the department a few days ago to pay a fine of Rs. 33,209. But, they have contested this amount as an adhoc amount of about Rs. 20,000 had already been remitted.
Moreover, the department had auctioned the timber last year. Only after ascertaining the amount realised through auction, they will arange to pay the remaining amount of the penalty. -MA
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