Srinagar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Jammu & Kashmir government to take disciplinary action against officers who allowed the felling of more than 1,000 trees in Kupwara without mandatory clearances. The tribunal also ordered recovery of pending compensation worth ₹3.81 crore.
Violations in Handwara-Bangus Road Project
The tribunal noted that 447 mature pine trees, 340 poles, and 236 saplings of deodar, kail, and fir were cut to facilitate the 40-km Handwara-Bangus road. While clearance was provided for phase 1, work allegedly began on phase 2 without mandatory approvals.
Petitioner Rasikh Rasool, a lawyer and activist from Kupwara, stated that no environmental clearance or management plan was prepared. He alleged that drains and soil erosion control measures required for phase 2 were ignored.
Compensation Left Unpaid
The forest department has not received ₹3.81 crore in compensation from the user agency, the PWD R&B division Handwara. This amount includes ₹1.31 crore as net present value, ₹28 lakh for compensatory afforestation, and ₹1.68 crore for roadside plantation. Chief Conservator of Forests Irfan Rasool admitted before the NGT that no payment has been made so far.
The NGT questioned how tree cutting was permitted without payment and directed the Chief Secretary to identify officers responsible for the violations.
Irregularities in Mineral Use
The J&K Pollution Control Committee reported large discrepancies in mineral use. While the project consumed 74,461.6 MT of material, disposal permits covered only 7,792 MT. About 63,940 MT was accounted for as road-cutting debris, leaving 2,728.82 MT unexplained.
Tribunal’s Directions
The principal bench of the NGT, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson) and expert members A Senthil Vel, Ishwar Singh, and Prashant Gargava, ordered the Chief Secretary to file an affidavit within six weeks.
The affidavit must explain the violations, detail disciplinary measures, and list other projects where similar lapses occurred. The Secretary of the Mining Department must also clarify mineral discrepancies.
The tribunal directed recovery of ₹3.81 crore within two months. The matter will be heard again on November 11, 2025, when compliance will be reviewed.
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