A bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF, head of the forest pressure) of Punjab to look into the complaints and take remedial measures within the matter of alleged unlawful tree chopping within the premises of the Faridkot cooperative. Sugar mills.
According to the newest evaluation report of the state forest division, a complete of 2058 bushes of various species have been standing within the sugar mill premises, out of which at the least 1,065 bushes (greater than 50 per cent of the full rely) have already been minimize. However, 993 full grown bushes, that are nonetheless standing, will be saved if well timed motion is taken.
The Green Court – listening to a petition filed by environmental activists Kapil Arora, Jaskirat Singh of Ludhiana and Gurpreet Singh Chandbaja of Faridkot – issued an order saying, “On the subject of alleged illegal felling of 2058 trees in the premises of Faridkot Co-operative Sugar Mills Ltd., We direct PCCF (HOF), Punjab to look into the complaint and take remedial measures to enforce the rule of law.The Chief Conservator of Forests, after ascertaining the facts, responsible for the violation of law may take remedial measures, including coercive measures, against any person found necessary. The application is disposed of.”
Of the full 2058 bushes of various species that have been standing within the sugar mill premises, at the least 1,065 bushes (greater than 50 per cent of the full quantity) have already been minimize. (specific picture)
Speaking to The Indian Express, Amritpal Singh, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Ferozepur Forest Range mentioned that as per the newest evaluation and tree rely executed by his division, a complete of 993 bushes of various species have been nonetheless standing. The premises of Faridkot Cooperative Sugar Mill, which was closed for greater than a decade.
“Last year, sugar mill owners (who operate under Sugarfed) had asked us for a monetary assessment of the trees spread over 136 acres standing in the premises. We had informed them that there are total 2058 trees worth Rs 56 lakhs and with this we had clearly mentioned in the letter that forest department is not allowing them to cut full grown green trees. However, those trees are not our property and they are not on forest land, so we had no role in this matter and it was their (mill owners’) decision to cut the trees. A private firm was hired to cut the trees through the tender process,” the official mentioned.
He mentioned that later there was uproar over the chopping of bushes and several other NGOs and inexperienced activists began protests on the web site to save lots of the bushes which have been house to many birds and animals.
A recent rely was carried out which confirmed that at the least 993 bushes might nonetheless be saved. He mentioned that many species of shady, fruit bearing and full grown bushes like Mango, Jamun, Shisham, Drake and Kikkar have been discovered within the space. He mentioned that aside from different wildlife, birds like peacocks, pigeons, parrots are additionally present in abundance.
A recent rely was carried out which confirmed that at the least 993 bushes might nonetheless be saved. (specific picture)
According to a sequence of three letters (copies of which have been accessed by The Indian Express), the forest division had calculated the minimal value of the bushes following a request by the General Manager, Faridkot Sugar Mills (now shifted to Bhogpur). Co-operative sugar mills).
In the primary letter dated February 10, 2020, written by the General Manager of Faridkot Sugar Mill to the Divisional Forest Officer, it was written that the dense, skinny, inexperienced and dry bushes of a number of species together with Mango, Jamun, Drake- are standing on the sugar mill land and due to this fact The Forest Department is requested to estimate the minimal value of those bushes in order that additional motion will be taken.
In the subsequent letter, dated July 15, 2020, which was written by DFO Ferozepur Range to GM Sugar Mill, the Forest Department acknowledged that after preliminary evaluation it was discovered {that a} whole of 2058 bushes have been standing on the sugar mill land. And their value was Rs 56.03 lakh.
However, the forest division’s letter additional states, ‘This is simply the estimated value of the bushes…This letter doesn’t permit you or anybody to chop/axe the inexperienced bushes. Your division can be accountable for chopping inexperienced bushes….
“We had clearly stated in our communication to the sugar mill general manager that we are not giving any NOC/permit to ax trees. These trees are neither in our jurisdiction nor on forest land. We are not the owners of these 2058 trees and cutting them was completely the decision of the sugar mill owners. We can only assess the number of trees and their estimated cost, if requested,” the DFO mentioned.
Another letter by Range Officer to DFO, dated seventeenth May, 2021, learn, ‘…As per the evaluation of bushes on sugar mill land, lifeless/dry and fallen bushes are 36 and inexperienced bushes are 2022..whole 2058 No permission was given for chopping/axing of inexperienced, standing bushes, and if they’re minimize down, all the duty rests with Faridkot Sugar Mills Ltd.. Ehna Rukan da Forest Department Nal no relation..( There is not any relation in these bushes) hyperlink with forest division)’
“The letter states that most of the 1065 trees that were cut were green and fully grown,” the DFO mentioned.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
