Wed Mar 05 11:17:05 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Orders Tree Census in Taj Trapezium Zone

**New Delhi, March 5, 2025** – The Supreme Court of India has directed the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) authority to conduct a comprehensive tree census within the 10,400 square kilometer area. The order, issued Wednesday, mandates the appointment of the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun to carry out the census.

The court’s decision stems from a plea highlighting the unauthorized felling of trees within the TTZ, which encompasses parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Justices Abhay Oka and N. Kotiswar Singh emphasized the impossibility of effectively enforcing penalties against illegal tree felling without accurate data on existing trees. The court cited the Uttar Pradesh Protection of Trees Act, 1976, stating its purpose is to protect, not destroy, the region’s arboreal resources.

The court had previously acknowledged the need for both a tree census and a robust monitoring system to prevent further illegal deforestation within the TTZ, a region crucial for preserving the Taj Mahal and its surrounding environment. Failure to comply with previous orders regarding compulsory afforestation in the TTZ had previously led to the court’s warning of potential demolition and land restoration. The current ruling reinforces the court’s commitment to environmental protection and the preservation of this UNESCO World Heritage site. The TTZ authority is expected to issue a formal order appointing the Forest Research Institute within a week.

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