Apex Court Stresses On Need For Census For Existing Trees In Taj Trapezium Zone To Ensure Vigilance
The Supreme Court, today stressed on the need for a census of existing trees for keeping a vigilance to ensure that no trees in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) are felled illegally.
The TTZ, an area of 10,400 square-kilometre approximately, spreads across Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras, and Etah districts in Uttar Pradesh and Bharatpur District in Rajasthan.
The two-Judge Bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih observed, "Prima facie, we are of the view that there needs to be a census of existing trees in the Taj Trapezium Zone and there needs to be a mechanism for keeping a vigil for ensuring that there is no unauthorised felling of trees."
The Bench was hearing a plea raising the issue of unauthorised felling of trees in the TTZ. It said that, somebody has to undertake a census of existing trees and there has to be a mechanism to detect illegal felling of trees in the area.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the authorities concerned, said that it could either be the Central empowered Committee monitoring it or the State Forest Department that could undertake the activity.
Senior Advocate A.D.N. Rao, assisting the Court as an Amicus Curiae, suggested that wherever tree felling takes place, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Police Station concerned must be made personally liable.
"That we may do. But today, there is no data of how many trees are available, how many trees are in existence", noted the Bench.
While hearing a separate Application in the matter on October 14, the Court said that it would order demolition and restore the land or the highways to its original status, if its direction over compulsory afforestation in the TTZ was not complied with by the authorities. It observed that the issue would not be resolved unless a tree census was undertaken.
Accordingly, the Apex Court listed the case for further hearing on November 29, 2024.
With PTI Inputs