{
  "id": 15565523,
  "title": "Keralam Forest department in a quandary over permission to fell trees",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/keralam-forest-department-in-a-quandary-over-permission-to-fell-trees",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T05:36:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/keralam-forest-department-in-a-quandary-over-permission-to-fell-trees/article71599807.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Kerala Forest department finds itself in a perplexing situation regarding the permission to fell trees on assigned land. Initially, the department had lodged cases against two individuals for cutting down a jackfruit tree, a mango tree, and Pathiri trees from a holding in the Cardamom Hill Reserve, Idukki. However, the department later withdrew the proceedings after accepting the accused's claims. The accused argued that the trees were felled to cover medical expenses for his sister and for house repairs, and they were not protected species. The withdrawal of the case was also based on the premise that the accused were not alive and that the trees were necessary for the repair of the house and medical expenses. The controversy surrounding the case has gained significance due to the department's recent withdrawal of an order permitting the cutting of trees on assigned land. This decision was made following intense criticism.",
  "summary": "The department, which had booked cases against two persons accused of felling trees on a holding located in the Cardamom Hill Reserve in Idukki, backtracks on the decision by accepting the contentions of the accused and approaches court to withdraw proceedings",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Keralam Forest department removes fences, iron bars blocking movement of wild elephants in Chinnakkanal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/keralam-forest-department-removes-fences-iron-bars-blocking-movement",
        "published": "2026-10-18T23:24:20.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}