New Delhi, The National Green Tribunal has directed the Survey of India to submit satellite images of the upper Ganga canal stretch to determine the extent of trees felled for the ongoing construction of a road in Uttar Pradesh for the 'kanwar' yatra.
Under the yatra, during the month of Sawan, which begins on July 22, pilgrims walk to Haridwar in Uttarakhand to collect water from the Ganges River and bring it back to offer at Shiva temples.
The court directed UP authorities to ensure that illegal felling of trees does not take place.
The NGT was hearing a matter related to alleged felling of over 1 lakh trees and shrubs in the protected forest area in three forest divisions of Ghaziabad, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar for construction of two-lane Kanwar Marg of 111 km from Muradnagar ( Ghaziabad district) to Purkaji (Muzaffarnagar district), near the Uttarakhand border.
The court had registered a suo motu case based on a newspaper report, which revealed that the UP government had given its permission to fell 1.12 lakh trees for the road along the upper Ganga canal. . Subsequently, three people filed a request for intervention.
A three-member bench headed by NGT chairman Justice Prakash Shrivastava took note of the allegations.
Meanwhile, Deputy Solicitor General and Additional Solicitor General of UP state said that efforts were made to minimize felling of trees by reducing the width of the road at some places.
"To determine the correct position, we direct the Survey of India to produce the satellite image of the stretch under consideration showing the extent of trees that have been felled on both sides of the canal," the bench, also comprising Justice Arun, said. Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel.
In its order passed on July 8, the court took note of the allegation that there was "illegal felling of trees on the pretext of widening the road" and said: "We direct that the state authorities ensure that no felling is carried out of trees". is carried out beyond the 20/15 meter width permit/decision of the proposed road."
During the trial, Akash Vashishtha, lawyer for the three interveners, stressed that there was indiscriminate felling of trees.
"The water, irrigation and environmental needs of the people living in the areas along the upper Ganges canal cannot be sacrificed for the sake of a road meant to be built for Kanwar pilgrims for only 15 days a year." , he stated.
"There are three other main roads leading to Haridwar. What is the need for another road? The road existing on the left bank of the canal can easily serve the purpose of Kanwar Yatra. It is also shorter in distance," he added.
On May 31, the court, after taking note of the report of the Uttarakhand public works department, observed that it was not clear whether it was necessary to construct a stretch of road in Uttarakhand to connect the road being constructed in UP with Haridwar.
He took note of the submissions of the State Counsel that no such connecting road is being constructed.
The matter was posted on July 25 for further proceedings.
Under the yatra, during the month of Sawan, which begins on July 22, pilgrims walk to Haridwar in Uttarakhand to collect water from the Ganges River and bring it back to offer at Shiva temples.
The court directed UP authorities to ensure that illegal felling of trees does not take place.
The NGT was hearing a matter related to alleged felling of over 1 lakh trees and shrubs in the protected forest area in three forest divisions of Ghaziabad, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar for construction of two-lane Kanwar Marg of 111 km from Muradnagar ( Ghaziabad district) to Purkaji (Muzaffarnagar district), near the Uttarakhand border.
The court had registered a suo motu case based on a newspaper report, which revealed that the UP government had given its permission to fell 1.12 lakh trees for the road along the upper Ganga canal. . Subsequently, three people filed a request for intervention.
A three-member bench headed by NGT chairman Justice Prakash Shrivastava took note of the allegations.
Meanwhile, Deputy Solicitor General and Additional Solicitor General of UP state said that efforts were made to minimize felling of trees by reducing the width of the road at some places.
"To determine the correct position, we direct the Survey of India to produce the satellite image of the stretch under consideration showing the extent of trees that have been felled on both sides of the canal," the bench, also comprising Justice Arun, said. Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel.
In its order passed on July 8, the court took note of the allegation that there was "illegal felling of trees on the pretext of widening the road" and said: "We direct that the state authorities ensure that no felling is carried out of trees". is carried out beyond the 20/15 meter width permit/decision of the proposed road."
During the trial, Akash Vashishtha, lawyer for the three interveners, stressed that there was indiscriminate felling of trees.
"The water, irrigation and environmental needs of the people living in the areas along the upper Ganges canal cannot be sacrificed for the sake of a road meant to be built for Kanwar pilgrims for only 15 days a year." , he stated.
"There are three other main roads leading to Haridwar. What is the need for another road? The road existing on the left bank of the canal can easily serve the purpose of Kanwar Yatra. It is also shorter in distance," he added.
On May 31, the court, after taking note of the report of the Uttarakhand public works department, observed that it was not clear whether it was necessary to construct a stretch of road in Uttarakhand to connect the road being constructed in UP with Haridwar.
He took note of the submissions of the State Counsel that no such connecting road is being constructed.
The matter was posted on July 25 for further proceedings.
