Staff Reporter :
The Cabinet on Monday approved a proposal for cutting of 13,356 trees of forests for implementing gas distribution pipeline project from Sreepur to Joydevpur.
The decision was made in a regular Cabinet meeting, after the Forest Department placed the proposal to cut down the trees held at the Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair
The Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd will implement the project, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told the reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
Shafiul Alam said, there is a government ban on cutting trees of any forest and it would remain valid until 2022 and currently the Cabinet’s approval is a must for cutting any tree from there. But, considering the greater national interest, the Cabinet gave approval to cut 13,356 trees, including 4011 saleable trees, in three kilometers area stretching from Sreepur to Joydevpur, he said.
The Cabinet Secretary said the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited has been allowed to cut and remove the trees on condition that it would plant more than 26000 saplings at suitable places on the same route.
The Cabinet also gave final approval to the draft of ‘The Ansar Battalion (Amendment) Act, 2016’ fixing minimum service length of the Ansar members at 6 years instead of 9 as a condition to make their service permanent.
Shafiul Alam said, the draft law has been proposed amending the Article 6(A) of the existing Ansar Battalion Act,1995.
As per the decision, 13,356 Sal and Gajari trees in three kilometres area from Sreepur to Joydebpur will be cut down to stretch the transmission line of Titas Gas, Mir Moshiur Rahman, Managing Director of Titas Gas said.
