Section 339 · Prohibiting felling, cutting, damaging, destroying any tree in any urban area

No person shall cut, damage, destroy, fell or remove any tree of the prescribed class, whether included in a private holding or not, within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation, except with prior permission obtained from the State Government under the provisions made in this Chapter or any rules made thereunder. Explanation .- For the purpose of this section the expression "damage" in relation to a tree shall include,- (a) girdling, drilling of holes, boring and use of poisonous substance; (b) cutting and exposure of roots or making a tree dangerous; (c) setting fire to a tree or its branches; (d) debarking or stripping of the bark; (e) extraction of resin and gum; (f) lopping of branches; (g) extraction and removal of torchwood; (h) damage to trees by throwing debris or stones; but such damage shall not include the damage which is caused,- (1) by the bonafide exercise of the rights of the right holders of the area; (2) by lopping of branches of trees which are grown mainly for fodder, horticultural or ornamental purposes.