PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ.(EXTRA), SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

(ASVN 2, 1948 SAKA)

1016

EXTRAORDINARY

Published by Authority

CHANDIGARH, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

(ASVINA 2, 1948 SAKA)

LEGISLATIVE SUPPLEMENT

Contents

Pages

Part - I

Acts

The Punjab Protection of Trees Act, 2026

(Punjab Act No.13 of 2026)

Part - II

Ordinances

Nil

Part - III

Delegated Legislation

Nil

Part - IV

Correction Slips, Republications and

Replacements

Nil

______

.. 1017-1026

( cxv )

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ.(EXTRA), SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

(ASVN 2, 1948 SAKA)

1017

PART-I

GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB

DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, PUNJAB

NOTIFICATION

The 24th September, 2026

No.15-Leg./2026.- The following Act of the Legislature of the State

of Punjab received the assent of the Governor of Punjab on the 02nd day of

September, 2026, is hereby published for general information :-

THE PUNJAB PROTECTION OF TREES ACT, 2026

(Punjab Act No.13 of 2026)

ACT

to maintain green cover for ensuring ecological balance, preventing

degradation of environment and conserving the soil, it is considered necessary

to regulate the felling and replanting of trees in the State of Punjab;

Whereas to provide institutional mechanism to compensate the

environmental loss caused by the felling of trees;

Whereas the State Government after due consideration, proposes to

make an Act for betterment of the environment, conservation of soil and to

regulate tree felling in the state;

AND whereas in the circumstances referred to above, it is deemed

expedient to make “The Punjab Protection of Trees Act, 2026” for the

abovesaid purposes;

BE it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Punjab in the seventy-

seventh year of the Republic of India as follows:

(a)

This Act may be called “The Punjab Protection of Trees Act,

2026”.

(b)

It extends to all the urban areas of Punjab as specified in the

schedule III appended of this Act or such areas notified by

State Government from time to time.

(c)

It shall come into force on the date of publication in the Official

Gazette of the State Government.

This Act shall not apply to the exempted area and exempted trees as

specified in the schedule I and II respectively appended of this Act or such

areas or trees notified by State Government from time to time.

Short title, extent

and

commencement

Act not to apply

to certain areas

and trees

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ.(EXTRA), SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

(ASVN 2, 1948 SAKA)

1018

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the context-

(a)

“Appellate authority” means an authority appointed by the

State Government for the purposes of this Act;

(b)

“Damage to trees” means harming or causing an injury to

tree by use of cement- concrete, decorative lights, defacing

with materials like flex, grill, wire, nail, plastic cable or

poisoning, partial burning or by any other means;

(c)

“Environmental compensation” means cost levied upon the

violator for restoration of damage caused to the environment

by application of Polluter Pay’s Principle;

(d)

“Exempted area” means areas included in the Schedule – I

of this Act or such areas notified by State Government from

time to time;

(e)

“Exempted trees” means ‘tree species’ included in the

Schedule-II of this Act or such trees notified by State

Government from time to time;

(f)

“Fell a tree”, with its cognate expressions, means cutting,

girdling, pollarding or damaging a tree in a way so as to cause

its death/drying;

(g)

“Form A” means written application for Felling/Disposing of

Tree in Non-Forest Areas in respect by a Person.

(h)

“Heritage Tree” means tree which is over 100 years in age

and has some unique historical, cultural, religious values.

(i)

“Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(j)

“State Government” means Government of Punjab through

Department of Forest and Wildlife Preservation;

(k)

“Tree” means any woody plant whose branches spring from

and are supported upon a trunk or body and whose trunk or

body is not less than ‘thirty five centimeters’ in girth at the

ground level;

(l)

“Tree Protection Officer” means an Executive Officer in

Urban local bodies in Punjab or any other officer so notified

by the State Government;

(m)

“Urban area” means an area, which is included within the

limits of a Nagar Council, Municipal Corporation, Notified

Definitions

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ.(EXTRA), SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

(ASVN 2, 1948 SAKA)

1019

Area Committee, Town Area Committee, or of any Urban

Development Authority/Body mentioned in the Schedule III

of this Act;

(n)

The words and expressions used in this Act and defined in

Indian Forest Act, 1927 and or other related Act(s), but not

defined in this act shall have the meaning respectively assigned

to them in those Act(s).

Except as provided in this Act or the rules made there under, no person

or Organisation or Agency or Government Agency shall-

(a)

fell any tree standing on any urban area;

(b)

cut, remove or otherwise dispose of any tree which is

completely dead or has fallen in any urban area.

(c)

damage a tree standing on any urban area.

The Tree Protection Officer may, incase other than the area mentioned

in section 3(d) of this Act, on receipt of the application as prescribed under

section 6(a) of this Act, of any owner or person entitled to fell a standing tree

or to cut, prune, remove or otherwise dispose of a fallen tree, after making

such inquiry, as it thinks fit, grant permission to him to do so;

(a)

Provided that such permission shall be considered if the tree

constitutes danger to a person or property or is causing traffic

hazard;

(b)

Provided further that such permission shall not be required

for the felling of exempted trees specified in Schedule-II of

this act in the urban areas;

(c)

Provided also that in exigencies such as floods, storms, warlike

situation or any other natural or manmade calamities, such

immediate steps as are necessary to remove any obstruction

or nuisance or to prevent any danger to public life and/or

property such permission shall not be required for the felling

of trees.

(d)

In the cases where permission of ‘Tree Protection Officer’

is not required; as above sub section b and c, the concerned

agency shall inform the details of felling/ removal of such

trees to the Tree Protection Officer within 24 hours of the

same.

Restriction on

felling, removal

and damage to

trees

Permission to

fell or remove

trees

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ.(EXTRA), SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

(ASVN 2, 1948 SAKA)

1020

(e)

The Heritage tree shall not be cut or removed except in rarest

of rare cases due to pressing development need or grave

danger with prior permission by State Government, on

recommendation from Tree Protection Officer, to be issued

with a well reasoned order.

(a)

Every application under Section 5 shall be in writing as per

‘Form A’ and shall be made in such manner and shall contain

such particulars as may be prescribed and such application

shall be accompanied by attested copies of such documents

as may be prescribed in support of ownership over the land,

the number and kind of trees to be cut, their girth measure at

a height of 1.35 metres from ground level and the reasons

there for, copy of sajra showing clearly the site and khasra

numbers of the property.

(b)

The ‘Tree Protection Officer’ shall give her/his decision in

the case of an application in respect of tree felling within

‘Thirty (30) days’ from the date of receipt of such application,

and in the case of an application in respect of a “dead or

fallen tree or tree that constitute danger to a person or

property” within a maximum of ‘Seven (7) days’ from the

date of receipt of such application.

(c)

Every permission granted under this Act shall be in such form

and subject to such reasonable conditions, as may be imposed

by the ‘Tree Protection Officer’.

(d)

If the ‘Tree Protection Officer’ fails to give his/ her decision

within the stipulated time in cases requiring 7 days time under

sub-section (b), the permission referred to in Section 5 shall

be deemed to have been granted.

(e)

Any person aggrieved by the decision of the ‘Tree Protection

Officer’ under sub-section (b) may file an appeal within ‘Thirty

(30) days’ from the date of such decision, to the Appellate

Authority and the decision of appellate authority on such

appeal shall be final.

Every person, to whom permission has been granted under this Act to

fell, cut, remove or dispose of any tree, shall be bound to plant and tend ‘ten

Procedure for

obtaining

permission to

fell or remove

trees

Obligation to

plant trees

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ.(EXTRA), SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

(ASVN 2, 1948 SAKA)

1021

(10) trees’ in lieu of every tree cut/ felled as far as possible in the same area,

from where such tree has been felled, cut, removed or disposed of by him

under such permission; provided that in case of a Heritage Tree, he shall be

bound to plant and tend ‘twenty five(25) trees’.

Provided that in case of constraint of land for such plantation or any

other constraints, the Tree Protection Officer may for reasons to be recorded

in writing, permit lesser number of trees to be planted, or trees to be planted in

any different area, or to deposit such sum of money in the special account of

the Tree Protection Officer as deemed appropriate for the purpose of such

plantation.

(a)

Every person who is under an obligation to plant trees under

Section 7 shall comply with the same and report within three

months that all the conditions as stipulated in the felling

permission of Tree Protection Officer have been complied

with;

(b)

In case of failing to do so the Tree Protection Officer may

impose a fine of ‘Rupees TenThousand per tree for the first

time non-compliance, ‘Rupees Thirty Five Thousand per tree

for the second time non-compliance’ which further will extend

upto ‘Rupees Fifty Thousand’ per tree if the non-compliance

continues.

(a)

Whoever fells or causes to be felled any standing tree, or

cuts, removes or otherwise disposes of any fallen tree, in

contravention of the provisions of Section 4 (a), (b) or

contravenes any condition of permission granted under this

Act, is liable to be imposed ‘Environmental compensation’ as

notified by the State Government from time to time and penalty

of upto ‘Rupees ten thousand per tree’ by the Tree Protection

Officer.

(b)

Whoever causes damage to any standing tree, in contravention

of the provisions of Section 4 (c) or contravenes any condition

of permission granted under this Act, is liable to be imposed

‘Environmental compensation’ as notified by the State

Government from time to time and penalty of upto ‘Rupees

two thousand per tree’ by the Tree Protection Officer.

Implementation

of directions

given under

Section 7

Penalty for

felling or

removal or

damage of

trees in

contravention

of Section-4

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ.(EXTRA), SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

(ASVN 2, 1948 SAKA)

1022

(c)

All such monies received as fine and penalty shall be deposited

in the State treasury under the appropriate heads of budget.

The sum of monies collected under the environmental

compensation shall be deposited in the special account of the

Tree Protection Officer and shall be used for the greening

activities in the respective urban local bodies.

10.

The officers exercising powers or discharging any duties or functions

under this Act shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of

Section 2(28) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

11.

Any sum, including any amount for compounding of an offence, the

payment of which has been directed to be made by any person under this Act

shall, without prejudice to any other mode of recovery under any law for the

time being in force, be recoverable from him as an arrear of land revenue.

12.

No suit or proceedings shall lie against the State Government or against

any person empowered to exercise power or to perform duties or discharge

functions under this Act, for anything in good faith done or purporting to be

done under this Act.

13.

The State Government may in the interest of general public, declare

by notification that any class of trees shall not be felled for such period as is

specified in that notification.

14.

Subject to such conditions, if any, as may be imposed, the State

Government may, if it is considered necessary to do so in the public interest by

notification in the Official Gazette, exempt any areas or any species of trees

by amending the respective schedules from all or any of the provisions of this

Act.

15.

The provisions of the Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation

of the provisions of any other law for the time being in force prohibiting or

regulating the felling of trees.

16.

The State Government may by notification can make rules to carry

out the purposes of this Act.

17.

For the purpose of removal of any difficulty in implementation of the

provisions of this Act or remove any ambiguity, the State Government may, by

Officers to be

public servants

Execution of

order for

payment of

money.

Indemnity for

acts done in

good faith

Power of the

State

Government for

preservation of

trees

Power of State

Government to

exempt

Provisions of

this Act to be

in addition to

any other law

for the time

being in force

Power to make

rules

Removal of

difficulties and

ambiguities

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ.(EXTRA), SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

(ASVN 2, 1948 SAKA)

1023

order publish in the official Gazette, make such provision(s) not inconsistent

with the provisions of this Act, but no order shall be made under this section

after the expiry of a period two years from the date of commencement of this

Act.

18.

‘The Trees Preservation Policy for Non Forest Government and Public

Lands-2024’ is hereby repealed.

SCHEDULE-I

EXEMPTED AREAS

[Refer Section 3 (d)]

Areas notified as Reserved and Protected forests under India

Forest Act,1927

Areas notified under Punjab Land Preservation Act-1900.

All Un-classed Forest in the records of Forest Department

All wildlife Protected Areas notified under Wildlife Protection

Act, 1972

Areas of Cantonment, Paramilitary and Defense forces

Government research plots

Nurseries managed by Government Departments

(And any other land notified by State Govt. from time to time)

SCHEDULE-II

EXEMPTED TREES

[Refer Section 3 (e)]

Bamboo (all species)

Burma Neem/Drek (Meliacomposita)

Eucalyptus (all species)

Poplar (all species)

Subabul (Leucaenaleucocephala)

(And any other species notified by State Govt from time to time)

Repeal and

savings

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ.(EXTRA), SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

(ASVN 2, 1948 SAKA)

1025

Form – (A)

Application for Felling/Disposing of Tree in Non-Forest Areas in

respect by a Person

[Refer Section 6 (a)]

*Name of the Applicant (In Capitals):

Father’s /Spouse Name:

*Date of Application:

*Contact/Mobile No.:

*Full Postal Address/Email Id:

*Land Details:

Block/Panchayat/Municipality/Corporation/others:

II.

Address/ Location of Site:

III.

Area of the land:

IV.

Plan/Map of the land:

Total No. of trees present in the land (Species & number):

*Details of Trees to be felled/disposed off:

*Purpose of Felling:

(To be authenticated by supporting documents in original)

No. of

Trees

Plot/

House

No.

Species DBH

(Cm)

Approx

height.

(Mtr)

Natural or

planted.

Approx

age.

Physical

condition

Plot /

House

No.

Date of

felling

(DD/MM/YY)

Species

Number of Trees

References of

permission from

the Competent

Authority

*Particulars of previous felling of trees:

(On the same plot of land, if any)

Name of Applicant/ Authorised Officer________________

(in case of any department)

Mobile No._________________

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ.(EXTRA), SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

(ASVN 2, 1948 SAKA)

1026

10)

[Only for application where prior permission or intimation to be

made under proviso of Section 5 (a), (b),(c)]

I, hereby declare that the aforesaid trees constitute

immediate danger in view of ___________(Give reasons)

and permission for their immediate felling is solicited in terms

of sub-rule (a) of rules 5 of this Act (Photographic evidence

to be submitted).

II.

I, hereby declare that the felling of aforesaid trees as

exempted tree mentioned in Schedule-II of this Act has been

undertaken on _________ (DATE) in view of

_______________ (GIVE REASONS) and information

in this regard is given in terms of Sub rule (b) of rule (5) of

this Act. (Photographic evidence to be submitted)

III.

I, hereby declare that the felling of aforesaid trees has been

undertaken on _________ (DATE) in view of

_______________ (GIVE REASONS) as per authorised

in terms of Sub rule (c) of rule (5) of this Act. (Photographic

evidence to be submitted)

Name of Applicant/ Authorised Officer________________

(in case of any department)

Mobile No.__________________

Address____________________

Date_______________________

Sd/-

B.B.S. TEJI,

Principal Secretary to Government of Punjab,

Department of Legal and Legislative Affairs.

3839/9-2026/Pb. Govt. Press, S.A.S. Nagar