Rs 10 lakh fine for destroying Haritha plants

HYDERABAD: Ramagundam municipal authorities in Peddapalli district levied a fine of Rs 10.70 lakh on a person for destroying 185 saplings planted during Haritha Haram.
The authorities invoked the provisions of the Walta Act (Water, Land and Trees Act), 2002 and imposed five times the penalty for damaging the plants. Sources said the person, Srinivas, has been given one week’s time to pay the amount or it would be recovered under the Revenue Recovery Act by taking over the property of the defaulter.
In another instance, Osman, whose goats fed on 20 Haritha Haram saplings, was also imposed a penalty of Rs 1.18 lakh. This is also five times the penalty. A contractor had lodged a complaint that the plants had been destroyed by the goats.
As per the calculation, Rs 1,180 was spent on planting each sapling, watering it and protecting it. As 185 plants were destroyed by Srinivas, his fine amount came to Rs 2.14 lakh. This was multiplied by five times under Walta provision and the man was sent a notice for Rs 10.71 lakh. Similarly, in the case of Osman, the amount spent on each tree was Rs 1,158 and penalty was for Rs 23,600.