‘Can’t compensate for loss of green cover with money’

Taking a serious note of cutting down of trees in Gautam Budh Nagar, the Allahabad HC on Tuesday said the government cannot justify its act on the basis that it will give adequate compensation to the affected individual.

Taking a serious note of cutting down of trees in Gautam Budh Nagar, the Allahabad high court on Tuesday said the government cannot justify its act on the basis that it will give adequate compensation to the affected individual.

The court stated the state government could compensate an individual whose trees were cut down but asked how it will compensate the society which is deprived of green cover and healthy environment in the area.

In the petition filed by one Ausaf, allotment of 4500 acres of land in favour of Patanjali Yog Sansthan of Baba Ramdev at Noida has been challenged.

It is alleged in the petition that more than 6000 trees on the said land will be cut down for the establishment of industry/food plaza by the Sansthan.

It will, the petitioner states, will result in huge damage to the environment.

The bench comprising justice Tarun Agarwala and justice Ashok Kumar deferred the hearing while asking state government to apprise it of the details regarding the decision to cut down green trees.

“On whose order trees were cut down and under what law permission to cut down green trees was granted,” the court asked.

In the petition it has been alleged that 200 bigha of land was given to the petitioner on lease for 30 years for plantation of trees.

The court will continue hearing of the case on August 30.