(1) On receipt of application from any person to fell any standing tree or to cut, lop, remove or otherwise dispose of a fallen tree, the Tree Authority shall, after making such inquiry as it may think fit, and with prior approval of the Government either permit in whole or in part or refuse the permission applied for :
Provided that no such permission shall be refused if the tree :––
(i) is dead, diseased or wind-fallen ; or
(ii) constitutes a danger to life or property ; or
(iii) is substantially damaged or destroyed by fire, lighting, rain or other natural causes.
(2) Where permission to fell a standing tree or to cut, remove or otherwise dispose of a fallen tree is granted, the Tree Authority may impose condition that the applicant shall plant another tree or trees of the same or other suitable species preferably on the same site within sixty days of the date on which the tree is felled or within such extended time as the Tree Authority may allow.
(3) The permission granted under this section shall be valid for a period of 180 days from the date on which the sanction is conveyed to the applicant. If the applicant fails to cut, fell, lop or remove the tree permitted to be cut, felled, lopped, or removed within the aforesaid period of 180 days, the permission granted shall lapse, unless the applicant obtains from the Commissioner an extension of time on an application for extension and payment of prescribed fee.