Wed Mar 05 03:48:39 UTC 2025: ## NGT Orders Uttar Pradesh to Investigate Illegal Tree Felling for Kanwar Yatra Route
**New Delhi, March 5, 2025** – The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate the alleged illegal felling of over 17,600 trees to create a 111-km route for the Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage. A report by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) revealed that the trees were cut in Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Muzaffarnagar districts without following proper procedures and without obtaining final approval.
The FSI report, dated February 20, 2025, highlighted that the agency’s opinion was excluded from a joint-committee’s final report. The NGT order, issued on February 28, 2025, noted the Uttar Pradesh government’s argument that the FSI report was inconsequential. However, the Tribunal stated that if the felling of trees beyond the permitted 20-meter limit is verified, appropriate action must be taken against those responsible. The order also mentioned the inclusion of satellite images supporting these claims. The NGT has instructed the state government to submit a detailed report on the matter. The incident has sparked concerns about environmental protection and the balance between religious practices and adherence to environmental regulations.
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