Punjab’s high court has suspended a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order for four months. The order had put an end on tree cutting. This paves way for tree felling for the sake of defence projects at military installations in the state.

This will allow the ministry of defence to work on strategically important projects at military stations in Sangrur, Jalandhar, Khasa, Tibri (Gurdaspur), Ferozepur and Kapurthala.

The order was passed by NGT that put a blanket ban on felling of trees on May 19, 2016. “The blanket ban on felling of trees passed by NGT is not to be allowed to adversely affect the ongoing works of the military stations at Patiala and Sangrur as these are defence projects. It would be just and proper to suspend the impugned order for a period of four months to enable the petitioners to execute the ongoing projects,” observed the division bench headed by Justice S S Saron in its March 1 order.

However, the court also said that the defence authorities had the rights to reach NGT within a period of four months for further directions. They could get further directions from NGT to know the steps that need to be taken in order to maintain greenery cover in respect of the trees that are to be cut.

The secretary, ministry of defence (MoD), and Colonel Q (Wks-1), Western Command, Chandimandir had filed a petition which has been disposed of by orders passed by HC. According to the defence authorities the projects involved substantial amount of expenditure that is to be incurred and is stated to have been sanctioned. 131 trees at Patiala and 86 at Sangrur were to be felled.

The Background

Dr Amandeep Aggarwal and Peacock Environment and Wild Life Protection Society, Chandigarh had filled a petition following which NGT had passed the order putting a blanket ban on felling of trees in Punjab. They also sought compensatory green cover along the Zirakpur – Bathinda expressway in respect of over 96,000 trees, which had been ruthlessly cut for making the said expressway. It is believed that the order affected defence projects and the ministry of defence had moved HC for the same reason.

Image Credits: Simranjeet Law Associates