Faridabad Officials Face Action After Illegal Tree Cutting

The National Green Tribunal has taken cognizance of the illegal felling of trees on the premises of the deputy director of animal husbandry and dairying in Haryana's Faridabad. The tribunal was hearing a plea that alleged unauthorized cutting of pipal (sacred fig) trees at the behest of the deputy director, a range officer, and a contractor.

The plea submitted before the tribunal stated that while permission was granted to cut shisham (Indian rosewood) and other miscellaneous trees, there was no approval to fell pipal trees. The petitioner argued that the felling of pipal trees violated environmental regulations and sought action against those responsible.

Joint Committee Formed to Investigate

Last December, the tribunal set up a joint committee to inquire into the allegations. The committee was supposed to assess the extent and numbers of illegal felling, check what types of trees were cut, and if there were permissions from the competent authority.

The committee consisted of the member secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and representatives from the Chandigarh regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The investigation aimed at determining whether conditions for tree cutting had been violated and make recommendations about necessary action.

Findings of the Report

The committee submitted its report on January 31. Based on the report, permission was given solely for the transplantation of eight ficus trees. Yet, as per the report, three pipal trees were cut even when the permissions were under the outlawed conditions.

The three pipal trees, which have been chopped in violation of these permissions, have evoked concerns of compliance with environmental norms by the tribunal.

NGT's Response and Further Action

On February 3, an NGT bench led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, along with Judicial Member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Afroz Ahmad, took note of the violations. The bench stated that the state government should take appropriate action against those responsible for breaching the permitted conditions.

The committee recommended that the divisional forest officer (DFO) be directed to take necessary action against the violators. It emphasized that the unauthorized felling of protected trees should not be overlooked and called for accountability.

Authorities Given Time to Respond

During the hearing, legal representatives of the authorities involved requested four weeks to file their objections or responses to the committee’s findings. The tribunal accepted the request and scheduled the next hearing for April 28. The matter remains under review, and further proceedings will determine the course of action to be taken against the alleged violators.

Environmental Concerns Over Unauthorized Tree Felling

The illegal cutting of trees, particularly sacred and environmentally significant species like pipal, raises concerns about the enforcement of environmental regulations. Tree transplantation is often permitted to mitigate the impact of development projects, but violations of such conditions can contribute to deforestation and environmental degradation.

The incident has drawn attention to the need for strict monitoring of tree-cutting approvals and effective enforcement of environmental laws to prevent further unauthorized actions.

Conclusion

As the case progresses, the NGT's intervention highlights the importance of environmental protection and accountability in tree-cutting approvals. The upcoming hearing on April 28 will likely determine the next steps, including possible penalties or corrective measures against those involved in violating the approved conditions.

Source: National Green Tribunal Proceedings, February 3, 2024