NGT issues notice to NHAI

National Green Tribunal has issued a notice to the National Highway Authority of India for its failure in making the land available to the forest department for the plantation along the highways.
The tribunal of the Central Zone (Bhopal) has sought reply from the NHAI by September 19, the next date of hearing.
Petitioner Babu Lal Jaju, state coordinator of People for Animals, said in his petition that despite having a huge fund to the tune of Rs 546 crore with the Forest department of state under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), no trees have been planted along the Jaipur-Delhi Highway.

"Thousands of mature tress had been fallen by the NHAI during the widening of the highway between Jaipur and Delhi but despite having it mandatory to compensate this loss of trees in such a large number, not a single tree was planted along the highway to make up for this environmental loss," Jaju said in his petition.
"The department instead used the fund meant for plantation for renovation and embellishment of its offices," he has alleged.
When sought reply from the government, the state's counsel submitted before the tribunal that despite several reminders, the NHAI had failed to make the land available to the forest department for plantation under CAMPA.

Upon this, the tribunal members (Judicial) Dalip Singh and (expert member) P S Rao issued a notice to the NHAI seeking reply on the matter by September 19.