Tree felling in Taj Zone: SC unhappy with UP govt

The Supreme Court today stopped short of ordering a CBI inquiry into alleged irregularities in utilisation of funds by Uttar Pradesh's forest department for felling and plantation of trees in Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) in Agra for construction of four different roads.
The apex court, which expressed its mind that the entire episode needed a proper inquiry, preferably by CBI, decided to give one more opportunity to the state government by making it clear that it would not grant further time for compliance of its orders.
A bench, comprising Justices T S Thakur and C Nagappan, which gave four weeks for compliance of its orders, decided not to go for CBI inquiry after state's Additional Advocate General Gaurav Bhatia, assured that all orders of the apex court would be complied with and a better affidavit removing all discrepancies on numbers of trees uprooted and numbers of trees planted indicated.

He said the state government was committed to carrying out the order of the apex court on the issue of compensatory afforestation at the expense of the project proponent.
"We think it fit to give one more opportunity to the state government to identify the area for plantation of trees as compensatory afforestation measure and plans, future plans and road map for implementation of orders of this court," it said.
The bench, which posted the matter for April 27, said "we are not happy with the cavalier manner in which the state government filed its affidavit".

"Crores of rupees have been spent on afforestation. How much money actually utilised for plantation works in the area bothers us. Given the track record of forest department and authorities, we are inclined for proper inquiry," the bench said referring to the utilisation of public funds and non-compliance of its directions," it said.

The bench said "we are not happy with what has transpired in the last few hearings and the manner in which the state government has dealt with the compensatory afforestation and order passed by this court.
"There is a large gap between the number of saplings to be done and actual plantation to be done. The only explanation offered for discrepancies and failure by the state government is the alleged non-release of funds. We see no reason why the state government did not move this court.