PAC members move NGT against illegal axing of trees

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 17

Members of the Public Action Committee (PAC) have again approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the illegal axing of trees in the city and other parts of the state.

PAC members Kapil Arora and Kuldeep Singh Khaira said after directions given by the NGT in a petition filed earlier, the Forest Department had submitted the report.

Regulatory mechanism, hefty fine sought

Members of the PAC said incidents of illegal cutting of trees had increased in the state, resulting in major losses to the environment. “We have again filed a petition with a plea of a regulatory mechanism with provisions of criminal proceedings and hefty fine against the offenders,” they said.

After NGT directives, report submitted

PAC members Kapil Arora and Kuldeep Singh Khaira said after directions given by the NGT in a petition filed earlier, the Forest Department had submitted the report. It states that at present, there was no mechanism in place with respondent departments or institutions to penalise offenders involved in illicit felling of trees.

They said: “The report states that at present, there was no legal provision or any mechanism in place with the respondent departments or institutions to penalise offenders involved in illicit felling, lopping, pruning or pollarding of trees. Only remedy available now with the respondent departments or institutions is lodging of a police complaint/FIR for the tree-related offences, whereas there is a need for a legal mechanism to impose fines and prosecute offenders in court by the respective departments/institutions, which will act as a deterrent to check these offences.”

Other members Amandeep Singh Bains and Jaskirat Singh said incidents of illegal cutting of trees had increased in the state, resulting in major losses to the environment. “We have again filed a petition with a plea of a regulatory mechanism with provisions of criminal proceedings and hefty fine against the offenders,” they said.

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#Environment #National Green Tribunal NGT