Shillong, Sept. 7: Meghalaya High Court today constituted an advisory committee of experts to examine the trees in and around the state capital as referred to by a commissioner who was earlier appointed by the court.

While passing fresh orders in relation to a public interest litigation filed by advocate Kaustav Paul, the court constituted the advisory committee comprising Meghalaya principal chief conservator of forest (R&T) and climate change S. Ashutosh and principal scientist forestry, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Shillong, K.P. Mohapatra,.

'This committee shall examine the trees referred by the commissioner in her report dated 04.09.2017 and, after necessary scientific studies, make a specific report about the status of the said trees and the course of action considered appropriate,' the court noted.

It also said the committee may submit its report by September 11.

Yesterday, while hearing the matter, the court had noted that when it tried to enquire about the expertise available with the Meghalaya government in the forest department, the response from the divisional forest officer and the government advocate has, prima facie, given an impression that engagement of some of the experts is essential so as to regulate the entire process concerning the trees in and around Shillong.

The court had earlier appointed joint registrar of Meghalaya High Court Kerpa M.L. Nongbri as a commissioner. Forest officials concerned would have to inform the commissioner of any process if taken up for cutting or pruning of trees. If any such a process is taken up, the court had said that the commissioner should make a specific report in this regard.

On August 18, while adjudicating on the PIL, the court had ordered that no further cutting of trees would be carried out by state government agencies without further orders.

Paul, in his petition, had noted that after three people were killed when an eucalyptus tree fell from the Raj Bhavan compound on August 12, the state government had identified around 500 trees across Shillong as vulnerable and posing a threat to pedestrians within four days.

The petitioner said after the incident, the respondents were rather 'mindlessly cutting' trees and if such an exercise was not checked, the pristine green city of Shillong would be denuded of its green cover without any reason.

The government counsel had earlier informed the court that soon after the incident, six committees were constituted to carry out a survey of different areas in and around the city.

According to the reports of the committees, about 549 trees needed to be chopped down and 83 were found to be causing immediate threat to life and property.

The counsel said the process of felling of trees would be carried out in a phased manner and replanting would be taken up. Until August 18, the court was informed, around 25 trees were felled in the city.

The court had also put a bar on cutting of trees until further orders.

However, the court said if any particular tree was found to be in a precarious condition and its cutting was considered unavoidable, complete details should be furnished before the court with a specific affidavit by the forest officer concerned.