(1) The Government may, by notification, invest the Tree Officers and other officers with all or any of the following powers, namely:—
(a) power to enter upon any land and to survey, demarcate and make a map of the same;
(b) powers of a civil court to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and material objects;
(c) power to issue a search warrant under the Code of Criminal Procedure,1973; Central Act 2 of 1974.
(d) power to hold enquiries into offences under the Act and in the course of such enquiry to receive and record evidence;
(e) power to take possession of property under the Act;
(f) power to direct release of property or withdrawal of charges; and
(g) power to require any person to plant tree or trees of suitable species in adequate numbers on any land owned or occupied by him.
(2) Any evidence recorded under clause (d) of sub-section (1) shall be admissible in any subsequent trial before a Magistrate if such evidence has been taken in the presence of the accused person and recorded in the manner provided by section 274, section 276 or section 277 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
1973.
Central Act 2 of 1974.