980 Trees Gone, Still No Culprits; NGT on Illegal Felling in Greater Noida

The NGT Noted Serious Lapses on the Part of Forest Department and Other Agencies in Identifying the Culprits and Recovering the Felled Timber

- Maria Khan

GREATER NOIDA: Expressing its strong displeasure over the illegal felling of 980 trees from the premises of a closed factory in Greater Noida and the alleged inaction of the authorities in tracing those responsible, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), in a recent hearing, directed the chief conservator of forests, Uttar Pradesh, to personally probe the matter and appraise the bench about the legal status of tree felling and the action taken so far.

"We require principal chief conservator of forest to look into the matter personally and appear virtually before the NGT on the next date of hearing to appraise us about the legal status of cutting of trees and the action that has been taken," the NGT bench said, during a hearing on February 3.

NGT has taken suo motu cognizance of large-scale tree felling on the premises of the defunct Daewoo Motors (also referred to as DCM Company), now acquired by Shakuntalam Landcraft Pvt. Ltd in Greater Noida.

The NGT noted serious lapses on the part of the forest department and other authorities in identifying the culprits and recovering the felled timber.