New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has directed an inquiry into the alleged illegal felling and sale of 4,000 trees in the eco-sensitive zone near the Taj Mahal.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar appointed advocate M C Mehta to visit the site near Taj Eco Zone where the trees are alleged to have been cut and asked him to file a report within two weeks.
Taking note of a newspaper report, the Tribunal had issued notice to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and Uttar Pradesh government directing them to file their replies.
"The state Government (UP) shall provide all facilities, and if required police security for execution of the commission by Mr Mehta."
During the hearing, Advocate General Vijay Bahadur Singh, appearing for Uttar Pradesh, told the bench that the newspaper report on which the Tribunal has issued notice to the state government claiming that 4,000 trees have been cut and sold is factually incorrect.
Advocate General further told the bench that state has constituted a High Power Committee to investigate the matter on which the green panel directed it to file the report within three weeks.
Chief Conservator of Forests of Agra division, A K Jain, told the bench that approximately 4,000 trees have been uprooted around 500 metre of Taj Eco Zone and at another site in Babarpur village land has been given to a builder from where nearly 8,000 trees have been uprooted.
The Tribunal also directed Jain to file an affidavit within two weeks giving complete details on felling of trees.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar appointed advocate M C Mehta to visit the site near Taj Eco Zone where the trees are alleged to have been cut and asked him to file a report within two weeks.
Taking note of a newspaper report, the Tribunal had issued notice to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and Uttar Pradesh government directing them to file their replies.
"The state Government (UP) shall provide all facilities, and if required police security for execution of the commission by Mr Mehta."
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During the hearing, Advocate General Vijay Bahadur Singh, appearing for Uttar Pradesh, told the bench that the newspaper report on which the Tribunal has issued notice to the state government claiming that 4,000 trees have been cut and sold is factually incorrect.
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Advocate General further told the bench that state has constituted a High Power Committee to investigate the matter on which the green panel directed it to file the report within three weeks.
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Chief Conservator of Forests of Agra division, A K Jain, told the bench that approximately 4,000 trees have been uprooted around 500 metre of Taj Eco Zone and at another site in Babarpur village land has been given to a builder from where nearly 8,000 trees have been uprooted.
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The Tribunal also directed Jain to file an affidavit within two weeks giving complete details on felling of trees.
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