Govt to file plea in NGT against stay on tree felling
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has decided “in principle” to file a review petition before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the stay imposed on felling of trees along prestigious road projects of national importance in the state.
“The decision has been taken to accelerate the construction process of national as well as state highways. The work on these projects has come to standstill due to the ban imposed by the NGT,” said the public works department minister, Razia Sultana, while chairing the quarterly review meeting of the held at Punjab Bhawan here on Thursday.
The minister said the state government had already got the nod from the Union ministry of environment and forests for executing the construction work on major road projects in the state, but work had to be stopped due to the NGT ban on felling of trees.
During the review of the progress on religious and other historical monuments, PW D secretary Hussan La lap prised the minister that the construction work on these projects was also hampered due to the dearth of funds.
On this, the minister instructed the official to arrange a meeting with tourism minister N av jot Sing hS id hut ob ring to his notice the status of these flagship tourism projects .“These projects are being funded by tourism ministry. The minister will be requested to release adequate funds,” she said.
Accusing the previous SADBJP government of not making adequate provisions to fund these projects, Sultana said she will also request the finance minister to release funds for the remaining construction work.
When the department secretary informed her that construction work on some state highways was also halted for want of forest clearance, she asked him to urgently take up the matter with the forest minister.
The decision (to file review plea) has been taken to accelerate the construction process of highways. Work has come to standstill due to the ban imposed by the NGT.
RAZIA SULTANA, PWD minister