Establishment of Tree Authority

(A-1) As soon as may be, after the commencement of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees (Amendment) Act, 2021, the State Government shall constitute the Maharashtra State Tree Authority, by notification in the Official Gazette, consisting of officials not below the rank of Secretary to Government.

1. (1) As soon as may be after this Act is brought into force in any urban area, the urban local authority concerned shall constitute a Tree Authority, consisting of not less than five and not more than fifteen persons, from amongst its members, appointed in such manner and for such period as that authority may determine : Provided that, where an administrator by whatever name called is appointed for any municipal corporation or municipal council, he shall, during the period of his appointment, act as the Tree Authority and exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the Tree Authority.
2. (2) In the case of an urban local authority specified in column
3. (1) of the table below, the Chairman of its Tree Authority shall be the person specified against it in column
4. (2) thereof. [Table included in official text]
5. (3) Every Tree Authority may co-opt experts from non-official organisations including retired Government Officials, with an experience in planting, preservation and conservation of trees, for minimum period as may be notified by the Government, from time to time, as members of the Tree Authority, but the number of such co-opted members shall not exceed three. These members shall be co-opted in such manner and for such period as the Tree Authority may determine.
6. (4) Any vacancy in the Tree Authority shall be filled as soon as may be by the authority competent to appoint the member in whose place fresh appointment is to be made.