The High Court yesterday (Wednesday) said if a tree is chopped, around 10 trees must be planted.

"One or two trees can be cut on permission from the authorities if necessary in the public interest. But new trees must be planted ... Trees cannot be cut wholesale in any manner," the HC bench of Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman and Justice AKM Rabiul Hassan said during hearing of suomoto (voluntary) rule over the incident of felling 30 palm trees at Kolapara in Patuakhali during constricting a rural road.

The court made the comments to Climate Tolerance Rural Infrastructure Project Director Md Mamunur Rashid who appeared before the bench in compliance with its earlier directive.

The bench fixed July 31 for delivering verdict on the rule.

It issued the suomuto rule on May 7 following a report and editorial published on the daily Prothom Alo on May 4 and 6 respectively on the incident of felling 30 palm trees by excavator machines in Najirpur village of Mohipur union in Kolapara upazila for constructing a road and its effect on the environment.

Advocate Prashanta Kumar Karmaker appeared for the Prothom Alo while Deputy Attorney General Wayesh Al Haroni represented the state during the hearing.