Plant two saplings for every tree removed: HC to state govt

In the PIL, Anil Kumar had pointed out that for constructing a borewell and an overhead water tank in village Bargawan in Sitapur district, a large number of trees would be cut down. The project was being executed under the Jal Shakti Mission of the state government.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has directed the state government to fell trees only if necessary, and plant two saplings in place of every tree removed and also make sure that it grows into trees.

(HT File/ Pic for representation)

Recently, a division bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Saurabh Srivastava passed the order on a PIL filed by Anil Kumar of Sitapur district.

The court also directed that the trees could be cut down only after forest department’s approval.

In the PIL, Kumar had pointed out that for constructing a borewell and an overhead water tank in village Bargawan in Sitapur district, a large number of trees would be cut down. The project was being executed under the Jal Shakti Mission of the state government.

During hearing of the case, the state government apprised the court that at the project site only five trees had been felled till date and they were only two years old.

The government also apprised the court that for executing the project no more trees would be cut down.