India, Dec. 5 -- The Rajasthan government is planning to increase the fine for cutting a Khejri tree to ten times. The government is also mandating to plant ten more trees for each tree being chopped by industrial units to set up solar projects.

State law minister Jogaram Patel said that this amendment will now mandate a prior approval to uproot a Khejri tree.

"Khejri is a lifeline for the desert areas. But it has been declining. There are many areas in Rajasthan where these trees are being chopped illegally. The Rajasthan government is serious about the matter. The government is making some amendments in the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act 1956 and Rajasthan Tenancy Act 1955 to come up with a stringent policy to protect these trees", he sai...