E-Paper
Zirakpur-Bathinda highway: Compensatory forestation claim challenged in NGT
Punjab’s forest department’s compensatory forestation claim along the Zirakpur-Bathinda highway (NH-64) has been challenged in the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Punjab’s forest department’s compensatory forestation claim along the Zirakpur-Bathinda highway (NH-64) has been challenged in the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Hearing a petition filed by Sangrur resident Amandeep Aggarwal on Friday, the NGT has sought Punjab government’s reply and listed the case for September 28.
Over 99,000 trees have been axed for widening the 220-km Zirakpur-Bathinda stretch of NH-64 in three years. In his petition to the tribunal, Aggarwal challenged the forest department’s claim that more than 50% of compensatory forestation had been done along the highway. He also submitted visuals arguing that no plantation had been done at Sahoke drain in Sangrur district though the forest department’s affidavit to the tribunal in April claimed that it carried out plantation on over 20 hectares.
Demanding a spot inspection by the NGT, he said no plantation was carried out at Bhawanigarh and even the central verge of the road had been covered with interlocking tiles.
The petitioner said the figures of compensatory forestation in Sangrur and Patiala district were different in the records of the principal chief conservator of forests and conservator of forests, south circle, which covers this region. He added the Punjab Pollution Control Board was never kept in the loop at the time of planning the project and it was not satisfied with compensatory plantations for the project.
In its May 20 order, the tribunal had banned the axing of tress on along the 220-km Zirakpur-Bathinda stretch of NH-64. But the Punjab irrigation department and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) got a stay from the Punjab and Haryana High court.
When contacted, Punjab’s principal conservator of forests Kuldeep Kumar said: “Over half of the compensatory forestation has been completed and rest will be done in phased manner. The department will file a detailed reply before the NGT in the next hearing.” The road widening project was sanctioned in November 2012 and since then more than 99,000 trees have been axed.
The state government was given environmental clearance for the project by the Union ministry of environment and forests on the condition that it will carry out compensatory forestation within a year.
The petitioner has also asked for original records, species of trees planted and their survival report, GPS location and video recording of forestation.
