Environmentalist Satendra Singh Accuses Authorities of Violating NGT Orders by Illegally Cutting Trees for Kanwar Route

UV INDIA NEWS: Ghaziabad: Satendra Singh, a member of the District Ganga Conservation Committee and an environmentalist, has accused authorities of defying National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders by continuing illegal tree-cutting along the River Ganga Canal to construct the Kanwar route. He claimed that nearly 1.25 lakh trees are being sacrificed unnecessarily for the project.

Key Allegations:

• Singh stated that widening the Kanwar route leads to removing trees beyond the approved count. He emphasised that the NGT had mandated satellite images to verify the number of trees being cut; however, this directive is allegedly being ignored.
• Singh pointed out that the current road width of 5 meters is being expanded to 25-30 meters unnecessarily, whereas the need was only to increase it to 20 meters. He questioned the rationale behind this extensive widening, mainly when a sufficient road exists.

Project Overview:

• Route: The two-lane road will run along the Upper Ganga Canal to alleviate traffic on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway during the annual Kanwar Yatra to Haridwar.
• Length: 111 km
• Forest Area Impacted: 222.9 hectares
• Trees to be Cut: 1.12 lakh
• Estimated Cost: ₹628 crore

Environmental Impact and Legal Concerns:

• The environmentalist argued that large-scale deforestation could lead to severe environmental consequences, such as disruption of local ecosystems and negative impacts on wildlife habitats.
• The NGT has been urged to intervene and enforce compliance with environmental norms. Singh and other activists demand that authorities stop the unlawful cutting and reassess the project’s requirements considering the ecological damage.

NGT Cracks Down on Kanwar Marg Project Over Environmental Violations

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has intensified its scrutiny of the Kanwar Marg project along the Upper Ganga Canal in Uttar Pradesh, ordering a halt to unauthorised tree felling and seeking satellite imagery to assess the extent of deforestation. Here are the key details:

Overview of the Kanwar Marg Project

• Purpose: To facilitate the annual Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage, the project involves constructing a 111-km road along the Upper Ganga Canal from Ghaziabad’s Murad Nagar to Purkazi near the Uttarakhand border.
• Objective: The road aims to reduce congestion on existing routes, bypassing light vehicles during the Yatra.

Key Issues Raised

• Environmental Concerns: The project involves cutting down 1.12 lakh trees across protected forests in Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Muzaffarnagar.
• Excessive Deforestation: The NGT highlighted that tree cutting has exceeded the approved limits, with allegations that felling extended up to 40 meters in some areas, far beyond the sanctioned 20 or 15 meters.

NGT’s Actions

• Satellite Imagery Request: The NGT has directed the Survey of India to provide satellite images of the affected areas to ascertain the exact number of trees cut on both sides of the canal.
• Compliance Orders: The UP government has been ordered to stop any illegal tree felling and strictly adhere to the approved road widths of 20/15 meters.
• Legal Review: The tribunal is investigating compliance with environmental norms, noting discrepancies between the approved deforestation limits and the actual tree-cutting observed.

Stakeholder Concerns

• Environmental Advocacy: Environmentalists, including Satendra Singh and former municipal councillor Rajendra Tyagi, have accused the UP government of violating NGT directives, leading to severe environmental degradation.
• Public and Legal Appeals: Activists argue that the project’s environmental costs outweigh its benefits and have called for a reassessment of the road expansion plans to minimise ecological impact.

Government’s Stance

• Defence of the Project: The Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) argues that the expansion is necessary to manage increased traffic during the Yatra and will provide a safer and more efficient route for pilgrims.
• Need for Balance: While acknowledging the need for better infrastructure, environmental advocates stress the importance of balancing development with ecological conservation.

Next Steps

• Awaiting Satellite Data: The Survey of India is expected to submit satellite imagery confirming the extent of deforestation along the route.
• Upcoming Hearing: The NGT will review the findings in its next hearing, scheduled for July 25. At that hearing, further decisions will be made based on compliance with environmental regulations.

Conclusion

The NGT’s intervention underscores the critical need for sustainable infrastructure development that respects environmental boundaries. The tribunal’s actions will be crucial in ensuring that the Kanwar Marg project proceeds in a manner that minimises harm to protected forest areas while addressing the transportation needs of the Kanwar Yatra.