UP eases tree-felling rules in Taj zone; simpler approval process beyond 5km radius

AGRA: Uttar Pradesh govt has simplified the process for tree pruning, felling and removal in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), especially for farmers operating beyond a 5-km aerial radius of the Taj Mahal, while keeping the strictest curbs in place around the monument.

The change is significant for cultivators in the outer parts of the zone, who had long faced a cumbersome approval system even for routine tree-related work on private agricultural land.

The regulatory shift came in the backdrop of restrictions imposed by Supreme Court in the M.C. Mehta vs Union of India case, under which all tree-related activities in the TTZ earlier required prior approval from the apex court following its May 8, 2015 order. In May 2025, SC reiterated, "No trees, regardless of number, can be cut within a 5-km aerial distance of the Taj Mahal without this court's explicit permission," making it clear that the zone closest to the monument would remain under direct judicial protection.

As per orders issued by the social forestry department on Sunday, permissions have now been decentralised under the latest standard operating procedure issued on March 25, 2026. For farmers beyond the 5-km radius, felling of 1 to 49 trees of species such as eucalyptus, poplar and melia dubia can now be approved at the divisional forest officer level, while approval for 50 or more trees will be granted by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), New Delhi.

For non-farmers, the process remained tighter. "Permission for felling 1 to 49 trees of all species will be granted by the CEC, while cases involving 50 or more trees will continue to require approval at the highest level," officials said.

Within 5km of the Taj Mahal, all permissions for tree pruning, felling or removal will remain under the SC, keeping the strongest environmental safeguards in place near the monument.

Officials said the revised mechanism also drew a distinction between agricultural need and other kinds of land use, which is why the relief has primarily been extended to farmers beyond the 5-km belt. "In urgent situations, such as preventing damage to property, avoiding loss of life, or ensuring smooth traffic, divisional forest officers can grant immediate permission for tree trimming or removal," an official said.

Additionally, the power department has been authorised to undertake trimming and pruning of trees obstructing electric poles and high-tension lines at the divisional level, following earlier directions issued in 2025. Officials said, "The aim is to avoid disruption in essential services while keeping the process within an accountable administrative framework."

Notably, the TTZ, spread across 10,400sqkm around the Taj Mahal, was created to protect it from pollution and ecological stress. It includes Agra, Mathura, Firozabad, Hathras and Etah in Uttar Pradesh, along with Bharatpur in Rajasthan and parts of Aligarh and Dholpur, which is why even routine administrative decisions in the zone continue to be shaped by environmental safeguards.