New Delhi, Aug 24 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has revived a case concerning the alleged large-scale illegal cutting of green trees within the premises of Agra College and its surrounding forest areas, noting that the matter involves substantial environmental questions.
The green body in January this year had disposed of a plea alleging "large-scale illegal cutting of green trees by Chitra Kumar Gautam, Principal of Agra College, M G Road, Agra, in the residential premises and surrounding dense forest area of the above-said college, near the Nalband Chauraha Drain and within 5 km of Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) area, in violation of environmental norms".
The tribunal had directed the divisional forest officer (DFO), Agra, to verify the factual position and take appropriate preventive, punitive and rehabilitative remedial action in accordance with law.
In an order dated August 21, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad noted that the DFO had filed a report dated June 1.
Noting the averments made in the report and the facts and circumstances of the case, it said that it is "appropriate to revive the original application".
It impleaded as respondents or parties the state of Uttar Pradesh through its principal secretary, Department of Environment, TTZ Authority, through its member secretary, Agra's district magistrate (DM) and DFO, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board through its member secretary, a private person and the college principal.
The bench said their presence was "essential for just and proper adjudication of the substantial environmental questions involved in the case".
It directed the Registry to issue notices to all parties and has ordered that responses be filed at least one day before the next hearing date of September 30.
