Bhopal: Go For Census, Geo-Tagging Of Trees: NGT; Construction Of Cricket Stadium, Road

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and other authorities to set up central rights committee, undertake tree census and go for geo tagging of trees.

The directive is aimed at knowing the impact on environment following construction of cricket stadium and a road in Neelbad-Barkheda Nathu area of Bhopal.

The construction is underway in the catchment area of Bhoj Wetland, which is a Ramsar site of international importance. Here, about 700 trees were cut illegally. Green activist Nitin Saxena who filed petition stated that approval of town and country planning department was not taken for the construction of the stadium.

Advocates Pratipal Singh Gupta and Harpreet Singh Gupta, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, stated in their arguments that the construction would cause serious damage to environment and biodiversity.

As per NGT order, the committee will submit report within six weeks and ensure that all the statutory procedures for permission to cut trees were completed.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests has been told to take permission from high-level committee if more than 25 trees are cut. The official has also been told to ensure that a record is maintained after geo-tagging all the trees and counting all the trees.

The committee should also see whether there are alternatives to cutting trees and whether compensatory plantation is done. NGT said that it would take 70 years to recover the greenery of 700 trees, which is an irreparable loss to environment.