Report sought on tree-felling around Taj

With continued threat to the Taj Mahal due to pollution around it, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a report into illegal felling of trees in the eco-sensitive zone around the monument by December 16.

The NGT has asked environmental activist and lawyer M. C. Mehta, who is a court commissioner in the matter, to submit the final inspection report on the felling of 4,000 trees around the Taj by December 16.

According to the report, a former Agra DFO had allegedly cut trees within 500m radius of the Taj Mahal, which was declared an eco-sensitive zone in 2011-12.

80 per cent trees felled

About 80 per cent of adult trees in the area have been allegedly felled.

The trees in this zone cannot be felled without the permission of the apex court.

The NGT had in July taken suo motu cognizance of the media report about the incident.

“What is this going on? We had given blanket orders to assist the local commissioner. Give us a final report or close down the matter. List this matter on December 16, 2015 and by that the report must come on record. On that date the final report should be positively filed by advocate M C Mehta. He is at liberty to take assistance from any institution he wants,” the Bench said.

Advocate General Vijay Bahadur Singh, appearing for the State of Uttar Pradesh, said the matter has been pending for long now and the local commissioner was delaying the proceedings in the case.

“Nothing adverse has come in the interim report as there is no mention of cutting of trees by the local commissioner. This matter should come to an end now,” he said. The tribunal had earlier directed Uttar Pradesh government to assist the probe into the alleged illegal felling of 4,000 trees and selling of the timber.

Mr. Mehta had stated that further study would be required with the aid of the specialised agency to submit a final report in the case.

The tribunal had directed an inquiry into the issue after taking note of a media report and issued notice to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Uttar Pradesh government.