Surabaya Government to Sanctions Anybody Cutting Down Trees Reckessly

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - The Surabaya city legislative council and government are deliberating a by law allowing the imposition of sanctions on anybody cutting down trees managed by the local government. Under the draft bylaw, if endorsed, somebody who cut down a tree recklessly was required to replace it with tens of trees, spokesman of the special committee in charge of deliberating the bylaw Rio Pattiselano said here on Sunday. "The number of trees depends on the diameter of the tree felled," he said. If the tree had a diameter of 10 cm, the number of trees that must be planted would be 10, he said. But if the tree had a diameter of more than 10 cm, the number of trees that must be planted would be 30, he added. The move was aimed at giving a deterrent effect to somebody who cut down trees recklessly, he said. Under Law No. 28/2009, no local government was required to collect fees from somebody cutting down trees recklessly, he said. The sanctions served as a warning for anybody who would construct buildings by cutting down trees without permits from authorized agency, he said. (*)