The National Green Tribunal has indicted the Uttar Pradesh government for illegal felling trees for development of Chak Ganjaria farm as a hi-tech city leading to damage to ecology, and has asked it to pay Rs 5 crore as compensation for damaging the green cover.
The compensation will be paid to the Central Pollution Control Board for ecological loss.
The NGT, in its order, further said that the money should be used as a part of Environment Restitution Fund.
The money has to be deposited within three months failing which interest will be payable at the rate of 12 per cent per annum, the order further said.
The issue relates to illegal felling of trees at the Chak Ganjaria farm and it was transferred from Supreme Court to NGT on March 6, 2017.
On the direction from NGT, the Uttar Pradesh government was asked to collect satellite data. A report was prepared by Remote Sensing Applications Centre (RSAC) while another report was sought from National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad.
As per report, the vegetative cover of density between 40-70 per cent, which was 0.684 hectares in 2012, became zero in 2017.
Similarly, the built-up area, which was 0.147 hectare in 2012, increased to 7.266 hectares in 2017 .
“There has been damage to the forest without due process of law. Though Lucknow Development Authority counsel claimed that permission was taken before felling trees, but no data has been furnished. It is stated that 7,944 trees were felled after permission and amount of Rs 96 Lakh was deposited towards the cost of the trees but this does not cover illegally felled trees,” the NGT said in its order.
Amicus curiae stated that it was possible to infer on rough and ready basis that the affected area was about 50 hectares and on that basis compensatory afforestation was required to be done in area which was ten times i.e., 500 hectares.
“As per additional affidavit, in 22.08.2017 government claims 1,19,000 trees have been planted in lieu of trees cut after taking permission. There is no compensatory afforestation for the trees illegally cut so far,” the order said.
The NGT said the state Forest department should undertake compensatory afforestation on 500 hectare and the department would also be responsible for its maintenance.
“The state should also take appropriate action against the persons responsible for illegal felling of trees. Such steps may be completed within three months,” the NGT said.