Environmentalists move NGT over illegal tree felling in Nurpur

A large-scale alleged felling of khair trees in the Bhadroya forest range under Nurpur forest division came to light in March this year. Offenders had axed numerous trees from land with the revenue entry of ‘Khudrao Drakhtan’ from January to March this year. As per the revenue entry, the state government had the ownership of these trees. The local media had also highlighted this massive tree felling but the Forest Department failed to act against the offenders.

Now, local environmentalists have moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for action against the forest mafia. Raman Kumar, a resident and environmentalist of Indora, along with others had filed a petition before the principal bench of the NGT in August this year. The NGT, after entertaining the petition vide number 485/25, started further proceedings to consider the petition and the next hearing was fixed on December 22.

The environmentalists, who have been flagging their concern over illegal tree felling, lament that they were forced to move the NGT when offenders started removing tree stumps and their underground roots. They allege that a large number of khair trees have been axed illegally in Indpur, Malhari and Ghagwan areas of the Bhadroya forest range.

It may be recalled that Sullah MLA Vipin Singh Parmar and Una MLA Satpal Singh Satit had raised the issue of large-scale felling of khair trees in the Assembly during the monsoon session a few months ago. The duo had flagged the demand for a high-level probe into the alleged illegal tree felling in the Indora Assembly constituency in the Bhadroya forest range but the government didn’t act. The petitioner in the NGT alleged that due to political influence, the Forest Department didn’t register an FIR against the culprits. “We had submitted written complaints to Forest Department officials but they did not act, forcing us to move the NGT against the offenders,” says Monty Katoch, a prominent environmentalist of the area.