Land owner ordered to pay Rs 20 lakh compensation

Vijay Arora

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, January 8

Taking a serious note of felling of 477 trees near Tara Devi, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) today directed the owner of the land Parminder Kaur to deposit Rs 20 lakh with the Forest Department as initial payment for re-forestation and as damages on account of restoration of environment and ecology.

The NGT headed by Justice Swatantar Kumar passed this order on suo motto proceeding initiated by it on the news report that appeared in The Tribune on November 21 last year wherein the issue of illegal felling of trees was raised.

The NGT further directed the DFO (Rural), Shimla, to submit a plan before the tribunal mentioning as to how the project of reforestation is to be carried at the same place or at adjoining places.

Apart from this, the NGT also issued notices to Amrik Singh Nagpal, a resident of Chandigarh and Director of M/s Pristine Hotels & Resorts Limited and his agent Praveen Sharma.

While passing the aforesaid order, the NGT observed that “there is apparent degradation and damage to the environment and ecology of the area. As many as 477 trees have been felled without permission and even intimation to the authority. This is the cruel act against the nature.”

During the course of hearing, the state informed the NGT that the value of 477 trees was Rs 33 lakh approximately. As of now, nearly 87.5 cubic meter wood has been recovered while the remaining has not been recovered despite the efforts of the Investigation agency. Some part of the wood is stated to have been burnt.

The NGT directed the Superintendent of Police, Shimla, to infrom the tribunal about the progress of the investigation.

During hearing, it was informed by the owner of the land that M/s Pristine Hotels & Resorts Limited Company had entered into an agreement with her for the land near Tara Devi Temple on September,12 last for the purchase of 38.5 bighas of land for 16 crores. She further informed that the Director of the abovesiad company, Amrik Singh Nagpal is responsible for all the acts.

The Company had entered into an agreement with Ms Parminder Kaur, owner of the private land on which 477 trees were found to have been felled.

An FIR was registered on November 21 by the local police under sections 30, 33 of the Indian Forest Act and 447 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).