(1) Subject to the provisions of section 14, it shall be the duty of the owner of the land to comply with an order made under section 9, or a direction issued under section 10 or section 11 and to plant trees in accordance with such an order or direction and to ensure that they grow well and are well preserved.
(2) All the owners shall effectively protect all the trees growing in the lands or the areas under their control and where the Tree Officer is of the opinion that adequate measures have not been taken to protect the trees from any damage, he may direct the owner to take such measures as are considered necessary to protect trees from damage. In case of default, the Tree Officer may himself arrange such measures and recover the expenditure thereon from the owner in the prescribed manner.
13[12-A.— Removal of trees, etc., which are in ruinous state or likely to fall.— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, it shall be lawful for the Tree Officer or the Deputy Collector having jurisdiction over their respective areas, if it appears to him 14 [at any time that any tree, including coconut tree, over any land] or its branch or a part thereof is in ruinous state or is in such condition that it is likely to fall and thereby cause injury to a person living or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passerby or to a building or house or any public place, he may, by written order require the person owning or possessing such tree to lop or cut down such tree or portion of a tree, which is in such condition that it is likely to fall and thereby cause injury to persons living or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing by:
Provided that no order under sub-section (1) shall be made unless the owner or occupier of land has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter in person or by his agent in support of his objections:
Provided further that where the Tree Officer or the Deputy Collector in consultation with the Tree Officer is of the opinion that there is likelihood of the tree or any portion thereof falling and causing injury or danger to persons and danger is of hourly imminence and it is not expedient to provide opportunity to file objection, he may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, issue order directing the person owning or possessing such tree, to cut down and remove such tree or any portion thereof forthwith or within the time as fixed in the order and if he fails to do so the Tree Officer or the Deputy Collector, as the case may be, will take all necessary steps towards its removal.
(2) Every order required to be issued under sub-section (1) of section 12-A of the Act shall be deemed to be duly served,—
(i) where the person to be served is residing in the house, at the place of his residence or in case of company, if order is addressed in the name of company, at its registered office or at it’s principal office or place of business and is either,—
(a)sent by registered post; or
(b)delivered at it’s registered office or at it’s principal office or place of business;
or
(c)is given or tendered to him; or
(d)if such person cannot be found, is affixed on some conspicuous part of his last known place of residence or business or is given or tendered to some adult member of his family or is affixed at some conspicuous part of structure or tree or building, if any, to which it relates.
(3) Whoever fails to comply with any directions issued under sub-section (1) within a period as specified in the said order, the Tree Officer or the Deputy Collector appointed by the Government in this behalf, shall take all reasonable steps to cut, or remove such tree or any portion thereof which causes obstruction or nuisance or is likely to endanger life or property of any person, to remove the same at the cost and charges of the owner or occupier of the land or of the tree and all expenses incurred thereof shall be recovered as arrears of land revenue under the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 and the rules framed there under].