A four-member panel, constituted by the NGT, has reported to the green court that over 17,600 trees have been cut across Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Muzaffarnagar districts to clear the way for a new route for the Kanwar Yatra.
Few months back NGT take up suo motu and reports indicated that more than 1,12,722 trees could be felled for the project in these three districts, thereby leaving a stretch of road between Muradnagar in Ghaziabad and Purkaji in Muzaffarnagar vulnerable to the impact of the project. In August, the tribunal constituted a joint panel to look into the amount of tree felling envisaged and its impact on the environment.
NGT's Interim Findings and Directions
The interim report of the tribunal was submitted by the panel, states that till August 9, 2024, 17,607 trees had been axed. The NGT Principal Bench with Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi, and expert member A. Senthil Vel, held that though permission was given for axing 1,12,722 trees, this plan requires felling only 33,776 trees. The NGT has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to determine whether this number was calculated as contemplated under the U.P. Protection of Trees Act, 1976.
Clarifications and Affidavit Sought
The UP government has also been sought clarification by the court of records as to whether the flora such as plants, bushes, and smaller trees which perhaps were not taken into consideration while computing the number of 33,776 trees should also be brought under the purview of the U.P. Protection of Trees Act, 1976. To overcome these uncertainties, the tribunal directs the Additional Chief Secretary of Environment to file an affidavit stating the number of trees to be felled to accommodate the Kanwar Yatra route project with even minute details following the provisions of the Act. NGT asked the joint committee to speed up its final report.
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