In an application regarding illegal tree felling in Dehradun, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notice to the Uttarakhand Forest Department and three prominent private builders in Dehradun. The builders are accused of axing scores of green trees for constructing apartment buildings, while the Forest Department is accused by the applicant of being in collusion with the builders.
According to the applicant, PFA Uttarakhand member secretary Gauri Maulekhi, Dehradun, used to be famous for Basmati rice and litchi orchards which have been replaced by high rises and malls consequently affecting the climate in the valley.
"PFA Uttarakhand studied the satellite images (from Google Earth) of Dehradun for a comparative study of the diminishing orchards. Applications were filed under Right to Information Act in the Forest Department seeking information on permissions for tree felling granted by the Dehradun divisional forest officer. Only few trees were felled with permissions and the majority had simply vanished. I filed a petition in the NGT, putting before the court various satellite images and RTI replies specifically related to Pacific Hills Apartments, being constructed on Mussoorie Diversion on Rajpur Road and Whispering Willows Apartments, Rajpur Road. Besides these illegal felling in the Hathipaon area of Mussoorie at the behest of Delhi based builders has also been brought to light, where evidence of collusion with the forest Department has been put before the Tribunal," she said.
The Forest Department, Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority and the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun are the original respondents in this case with Pacific Development Corporation ltd, Rajpur Road; Whispering Willows, Rajpur Road and Markx Infra Homes (Pvt) ltd, Rajpur Road being added to the list of respondents.
She alleged that apart from the Dehradun forest division officials ignoring illegal tree felling, the Mussoorie forest division had made a false case to compound substantial oak tree felling at Hathipaon area by Delhi based builders. "All procedures and protocols were put at stake to benefit the builders and to facilitate tree felling on specific plots bought by five Delhi based builders. We have also requested the NGT that construction at these sites be stayed and a CBI enquiry be conducted into the involvement of the Forest Department in the illegal tree felling in these and many other locations in Dehradun," she added.
