The UP government plans to cut over 33,000 fully grown trees to develop a 111 km Kanwar route project to Haridwar, that will pass through Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Muzaffarnagar. The government has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) about its decision. The NGT has asked the government to provide more details on the matter.
Key highlights
- The Union Environment Ministry has already given its nod to the UP government’s plan to cut 110,000 trees for the project.
- The NGT took a suo motu cognizance in the matter and requested the principal conservator of forests, the ministry, the public works department, and the district magistrates of the three districts for a more detailed breakdown.
- The government has said that the existing Knawar route passes through 54 villages across these districts and causes traffic disruptions, particularly during the Shravan month.
- The Kanwar route was proposed in 2018 as an alternative to the usual road for devotees.
Concerns
- The cutting of trees in such a large number will significantly harm the environment.
- This may cause further rise in temperature and heatwaves.
- Furthermore, it will impact the Government of India’s net zero targets by 2070.
About the National Green Tribunal (NGT)
- NGT was established on 18th October 2010, under the NGT Act 2010 as a specialized body to handle environmental disputes related to the protection and conservation of the environment, forests, and other natural resources. It also ensures drawing compensation for any damage to the environment.
- It replaced the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA).
- The inspiration behind establishing NGT was Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which talks about providing a healthy environment to the people of India.
- India was only the third country in the world after Australia and New Zealand to establish a specialized environmental tribunal.
- Its headquarter is located in New Delhi, however, there are four other places of sitting of the tribunal- Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai.
- It is not a Constitutional body as it had been through an act passed in the parliament.
- It is headed by a Chairman, appointed by the central government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India. Its members hold office for five years and are not eligible for reappointment.
Jurisdiction laws
The NGT resolves the cases within 6 months of filling while considering the provisions of the following seven laws:
- Water Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution), 1974
- Water Cess Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution), 1977
- Forest Act (Conservation), 1980
- The Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1981
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002