NHAI response sought on plea against felling trees on highways

The National Green Tribunal today sought a response of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on a plea alleging that in the 25 years since its inception it has felled crores of trees while building and expanding highways, leading to decrease in the green cover of the country at an "alarming" rate.
A bench headed by NGT judicial members justices U D Salvi and M S Nambiar issued notices to NHAI, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MRTH) and Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) seeking their responses by February 10.
The order came on the petition filed by Ghaziabad resident Vijaypal Baghel who has sought directions to NHAI to build new roads on the barren lands adjoining existing highways, instead of felling trees on the sides to expand the roads.

He has sought all the authorities concerned be restrained from felling trees on the sides of national and state highways and other roads till his petition is disposed of.
He has contended the crores of trees felled by NHAI over the years has lead to a drastic decrease in the green cover and loss of biodiversity as different species of trees have been cut in the construction and expansion of highways.
The loss of green cover has contributed to an increase in temperatures, Baghel has claimed, adding that if nothing is done more trees will be lost.
He has also sought directions to authorities concerned to submit an account of all the species of trees, herbs and shrubs which have been cut over the last 25 years by NHAI while building the highways.

Baghel has also sought that instead of planting any specie of saplings to compensate for the trees that have been cut, the same species should be planted.