If a palmyra tree is to be cut down under unavoidable circumstances, individuals/organisations could apply for permission through the ‘Uzhavan’ mobile-based app. (File photo)
The Tamil Nadu government has issued orders restricting the cutting down of the palmyra — Tamil Nadu’s ‘State tree’ only under unavoidable circumstances. As per the guidelines issued last week, for every palmyra tree that was to be cut down, at least 10 palmyra saplings have to be planted to compensate. A palmyra tree could be cut down only with prior permission and in the presence of officials concerned.
If a palmyra tree is to be cut down under unavoidable circumstances, individuals/organisations could apply for permission through the ‘Uzhavan’ mobile-based app. A regional monitoring committee headed by an Assistant Director of Agriculture would undertake field verification and its necessity and would submit a report to the district-level monitoring committee headed by the respective Collector.
The district-level committee would grant permission within a month of receiving the application and its decision would be final. “The applicant should cut down the said palmyra tree/s only after receiving the permission. Officials would be authorised to be present when the said palmyra trees are cut down.” The cut trees are to be transported only with necessary communication from the Director of the Horticulture and Plantation Crops.
The regional committee would undertake a field survey involving the respective Village Administrative Officer and the Assistant Director of Agriculture and maintain a palmyra tree registry. The regional committee would also conduct awareness programmes among the farmers over the benefits of palmyra trees and the guidelines announced for cutting down only under unavoidable circumstances. Sessions would be held during gram sabha meetings in this regard.
In June, 1988, the Tamil Nadu government declared the palmyra tree as the ‘State tree’. In 2021, the Agriculture Minister announced the State government would make obtaining of permission mandatory to cut down the palmyra tree. In December 2021, the State government issued orders to avoid cutting down of palmyra trees to avoid using them in brick kilns. It authorised the District Collector to examine request/s for cutting down the tree under unavoidable circumstances. However, detailed guidelines were not issued in this regard then.
As per the figures available with the Tamil Nadu Khadi and Village Industries Board as of 2019-2020, there are about five crore palmyra trees in Tamil Nadu. According to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, there are about 10 crore palmyra trees in the country and of them, five crore were in the State. About three lakh farmers are depending on palmyra trees in the State for their livelihood. The export of palm products are sizable in its contribution to the State exchequer. The Tamil Nadu government has been implementing a mission to protect the State tree since three years now.
Published – September 18, 2025 05:45 pm IST
