Taj Trapezium Zone: SC seeks CEC's response on DFCC plea

The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) over a petition of Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCC), seeking permission to cut 493 trees in the Taj Trapezium Zone for one of its projects.

The DFCC has come forward to install a 132 KV transmission line to supply power to Faridabad and Agra districts, which particularly falls in the Taj Trapezium Zone.

"It is a part of World Bank financed project of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor which runs from Dankuni, West Bengal to Ludhiana in Punjab," DFCC said.

The petition, which was filed by lawyer S Wasim A Qadri, alleged that the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor would be passing through Faridabad and Agra and some of its portions also fall under the Taj Trapezium Zone leading to the felling of trees for construction of electric transmission line for supply of power to the corridor.

The 'Freight Corridor' is funded by the World Bank and is one of "the most prestigious projects" having national importance and has been setup as a "Special Purpose Vehicle" in the transport system under the Ministry of Railways, the plea further said.