New Delhi, Nov 30: The National Green Tribunal has directed the local commissioner, probing illegal felling of 4,000 trees in the Eco-Sensitive Zone near the Taj Mahal, to submit the final inspection report byDecember 16.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar gave this direction to advocate M C Mehta, who was appointed as local commissioner to enquire into the tree felling incident.
Advocate General Vijay Bahadur Singh, appearing for Uttar Pradesh government, said that the matter has been pending since long and the local commissioner appointed by the tribunal was delaying the proceedings in the case.
“Nothing adverse has come in the interim report as there is no mention of cutting of trees by the local commissioner. This matter should come to an end now,” he said.
The tribunal had earlier directed Uttar Pradesh government to provide assistance to the inquiry into the alleged illegal felling and sale of 4,000 trees.
According to a report, a former Agra DFO had allegedly cut trees in 500-m-radius of the Taj Mahal, which is an eco-sensitive zone.
