...Another notice on canal project

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 25

The National Green Tribunal on Monday issued notice to the Punjab Government for felling 24,742 trees in Nawanshahr and Jalandhar along the Bist Doab Canal allegedly without permission under the Forest Conservation Act.

The notice was issued by a principal bench of the tribunal on an application filed by Delhi based environmental activist Nishant Kumar Alag. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for July 4.

Citing stories in these columns on April 6 and May 7, he alleged that the violation of provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 were being done.

He alleged that axing of trees within a forest area of around 107.25 hectares along the Bist Doab canal where around 24,742 trees are to be cut down. As many as 8,000 trees have already being felled in Nawanshahr and Jalandhar.

He said that it was a violation of the provisions of Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and also orders and directions passed by the Supreme Court in 1995 in the TN Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union of India case.