(1) This Act may be called the West Bengal Trees (Protection and conservation in Non-Forest Areas) Act, 2006.
(2) it extends to the whole of West Bengal.
(3) It shall come into force at once.
2. This Act shall apply to trees in Non-Forest Areas viz. the 'Areas other than forest and the Areas declared as community reserve under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
' Explanation.—fay the purpose of this section, the word 'forest' has the same meaning as is assigned in the West Bengal Private Forests Act, 1948.
3. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(1) "appellate authority" means an appellate authority appointed under sub-section (1) of section .7 ;
,
(2) "competent authority" means an authority appointed by the State Government, by,notification, to perform the duties and exercise the powers conferred upon a competent authority under this Act ;
(3) "felling of tree" means cutting, girdling, pollarding, uprooting or damaging a tree in any manner but shall not include lopping off of a limb of tree for such purposes as may be prescribed ;
(4), "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette ;
(5) "person" shall include any company Or association or body of indivicluals,whether incorporated or not ;
(6) "raiyat" shall lave the same meaning as in the WeSt Ben p, Land Reforms Act, 1955
(7) "Sch4ule" mews a Schedule to this Act ;
(8) "State Government" means the State Government of West Bengal ;
(9) "tree" has the same mewing as in the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and includes any woody plant whose branches spring from an area supported upon a trunk or body and whose trunk or body is not less than ten centimetres in diameter at breast height from the ground level ;
53 of 1972.
West Ben. Act XIV of 1948.
West BentAct X of 1956.
16 of 1927.
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PART Evil THE KOLKATA GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY, APRIL 12, 2006 435 The West Bengal Trees (Protection and Conservation in Non-Forest Areas) Act, 2006.
(Sections 4-6.)
Explanation.—For the purpose of this clause 'breast height' means the standard height for measuring girth, diameter and basal area of standing trees which is taken as 4 feet 6 inches (1.37 metre) above ground level and on slopes breast height is taken on the up-hill side.
(10) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act ;
(11) Other expressions used in this Act, but not defined, shall have the same meanings as defined in the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
4. Except as provided in this Act or the rules made thereunder, no person shall—
(a) fell any tree in the Non-Forest Areas ; and
(b) cut, remove or otherwise dispose of any tree other than a tree which has felled without the aid of human agency.