Agra: The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday once again reiterated in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that no trees were felled near the Taj Mahal. The state government, during the last hearing, had filed objections over the report filed by environmentalist MC Mehta on tree felling near the Taj and at another forest block in Agra. A senior forest official told TOI, "The advocate general, representing the state government, said there was no evidence that trees were felled in Agra. He argued that Mehta's entire report is based on testimonies of three persons, which included two daily wagers and that cannot be a basis for tree felling on such a large scale." Following a report sent to the state government by chief forest conservator AK Jain last year in June, alleging that a former Agra divisional forest officer (DFO) had cut 8,000 trees in Babupur and around 4,000 trees in the 500-metre-radius of the Taj Mahal, Mehta was appointed local commissioner in the matter. Agreeing with Jain's claims, Mehta had stated in his final report that more than 10,000 trees were cut near Taj Mahal and Babarpur forest block in Agra. The advocate general further informed the tribunal that there is no further evidence - whether it is satellite mapping, or study done by forest survey of India or Indian Space Research Organization, which can establish that trees were felled. The senior official requested the court to pass suitable direction, if any, for plantation and increasing green cover near the Taj, said the forest official. The NGT fixed the next date of hearing in the matter for November 7, while directing the Union ministry of environment and forest, Taj Trapezium Zone Authority and Pollution Control Board to file their replies. In the final report to NGT on May 5, Mehta had stated that around 3,500 trees were cut near the Taj, while 7,000 were felled at another forest block in Agra. Mehta also raised serious objections to holding of concerts and other social gatherings as well as commercial activities near the Taj as such activities not only disturb the wildlife in the area, but also pose a danger to the security of the monument. In July 2015, NGT, while taking suo motu cognizance of a TOI report about a former DFO illegally felling and selling thousands of trees in Taj Mahal's special eco-sensitive zone at Babarpur forest block, had appointed Mehta as a court commissioner asked him to visit Agra and report to the tribunal as to whether any trees were uprooted around 500-meter of the Taj Eco Zone and in Babarpur village.
Source: The Times of India, 23 september 2016