New Delhi, May 19 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the divisional director of the social forestry division in Meerut to ensure the plantation of 10 trees for every tree illegally felled by a city college.
The green body had earlier initiated proceedings based on a letter petition alleging that the managing committee of the Meerut College was responsible for the illegal felling of scores of trees on its campus.
In an order dated May 11, made available on Tuesday, a bench of judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert members Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad said that a joint committee earlier formed by the tribunal had reported about illegal felling of trees.
The bench noted that according to the panel, a forest offence case under the Uttar Pradesh Protection of Trees Act provisions had been registered by the divisional director, social forestry division of Meerut.
It, however, noted that the offence had been compounded according to rules by depositing Rs 1 lakh.
The tribunal said, “The Supreme Court and this tribunal have, in a number of cases, adopted the principle of plantation of 10 trees in lieu of one tree illegally felled with the object of deterring illegal felling of trees and also compensating for the ecological impact of illegal felling of trees.”
Underlining the judicial precedents, it directed the divisional director to ensure that compensatory plantation in the ratio of 10 trees in place of one tree illegally felled had to be carried out in the premises of the college or some other suitable land in the area.
The tribunal also said that arrangements had to be made for proper maintenance and care of the trees planted for a minimum period of five years.
