The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a panel to investigate allegations of unlawful tree felling at the civil surgeon's office premises in Jalandhar, Punjab. The committee will not only verify the claims but also assess the existing mechanisms in Punjab for tree felling in non-forest areas. The move comes after concerns were raised about the lack of transparency and regulation in tree cutting, particularly on government lands, without proper permission.
The green panel was hearing a plea, according to which 20 heritage trees, around 100-150 years old, were cut by the state's public works department (PWD) last month.
In an order passed last week, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "The applicant has also raised the plea that Jalandhar has hardly any forest cover and these heritage trees were the lungs of the city and (that) the PWD, in connivance with the contractor, has illegally cut those trees." The bench, comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, said the plea raised substantial issues relating to compliance with the environmental norms.
"Having regard to the seriousness of the allegations, we form a joint committee comprising the representatives of the member secretary, Central Pollution Control Board, Chandigarh regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), principal chief conservator of forest, Mohali and district magistrate, Jalandhar," the tribunal said.
"The committee will visit the site, ascertain the truthfulness of the allegations and the persons responsible for cutting the trees and also the mechanism existing in the state of Punjab to prevent the felling of trees in non-forest areas and submit a report within eight weeks," it added.
The matter has been posted on January 24 for further proceedings.
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