Environmentalists and activists have cried foul that despite NGT's notice, thousands of trees were felled last week
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday refused to stay the Haryana forest department's order to fell mesquite trees, in the Aravalli forests, for a construction project of Bharti Land Limited. Instead, it directed the Haryana government and two real estate companies to respond by Tuesday, to the plea filed by ex-army man Lt Gen (retd) Sarvadaman Singh Oberoi. Oberoi's petition alleges that the Haryana forest department allowed Bharti Land Limited and Ajay Enterprises Pvt Ltd permission to fell trees over 52 acres of deemed forest in Sarai Khawaja, Faridabad, without proper green clearances.
The NGT bench, headed by Justice Jawad Rahim, passed the directions and will now hear the matter on Wednesday. During the hearing, appearing for Bharti Land Limited, senior advocate Pinaki Mishra argued that the company possessed all permissions to fell trees and added that it was willing to provide an undertaking to comply with conditions stated in the permissions.
Counsel for Haryana government argued that the plea should be dismissed as it was not maintainable. He requested for time to file a detailed response. Environmentalists and activists have cried foul that despite NGT's notice, thousands of trees were felled last week.
According to Oberoi's petition, Bharti Land Limited in collaboration with Ajay Enterprises sought permission to fell 1,000 trees over 52 acres of land in Sarai Khawaja village, Faridabad. Senior officials of the Haryana forest department such as the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Faridabad and Conservator of Forests, South Circle, Gurgaon, were not in favour of permitting tree felling. They stated that the land involved in the case was part of the Aravalli hills which are ecologically sensitive. Further, they put it on record that the land fell under the category of gair mumkin pahar (uncultivable land) of Aravalli hills, and it will be classified as such till the Supreme Court decided on the 'definition' of forests.
Despite their opposition, SK Gulati, Additional Chief Secretary of Forests, Haryana Government wrote a letter on April 24 to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests directing him to grant necessary approval for felling of mesquite trees to Bharti Land Ltd. DNA has reviewed letters of all three forest officials.
The plea has also requested the Tribunal to direct Haryana government to declare Aravalli hills, including the gair mumkin pahar, a part of the natural conservation zone.
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