Take action against ‘illegal’ felling of trees for Kanwar Yatra route: NGT to U.P.

NGT directs action against illegal tree cutting for Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh, as per FSI report.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to take appropriate action against people responsible if trees were illegally axed for a 111-km Kanwar Yatra route, as stated in a report by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), and also submit a report to the court.

A total of 17,607 trees have been cut in Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Muzaffarnagar districts to make way for the new route, as per data provided by the Public Works Department of the State government.

As per the report dated February 20 submitted by the FSI, trees were axed for the route “not as per rules” and without “final approval”. Also, the opinion of the FSI was not included in a ‘final report’ of a joint-committee, as per the report submitted by FSI Joint Director Meera Iyer.

In an order dated February 28, the NGT noted that the ASG, appearing for the U.P. government, told the court that the report submitted by Ms. Iyer was of “no consequence” as there was no order permitting the FSI Director to appoint Ms. Iyer as his representative.

“... we are of the opinion that in certain stretches felling of trees beyond 20 metres has been done and satellite images have been enclosed, then, the competent authority must verify it, ascertain its correctness and ... then take appropriate action against those who are responsible for the same,” the order read.