No trees cut on Shahjahan Park & Gwalior Road stretch in Agra: UP govt to NGT

Agra: Countering allegations raised in an environmental plea, the UP govt has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that no trees were felled in Agra's Shahjahan Park and Bundu Katra area on the Gwalior Road stretch. This was stated in an affidavit submitted by Rakesh Kumar, regional director of social forestry, during a hearing before the NGT's principal bench.NGT had earlier this month issued notice to the Centre, UP govt and others on a plea alleging illegal tree felling and encroachments in the ecologically sensitive zone of Agra district, particularly around the Taj Mahal and along the Agra-Gwalior highway.The affidavit was filed in response to a petition by Agra-based Jagan Prasad Tehriya alleging extensive damage to vegetation during construction work in Shahjahan Park, areas along the Gwalior Road and other parts of the city in violation of the Supreme Court orders governing Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ). Tehriya alleged that excavation work near the roots of old trees had harmed the green cover and disturbed habitats of birds and butterflies. Acting on the complaint, NGT directed officials to submit a factual report. A joint inspection was carried out by the forest department and social forestry and concluded that no trees had been cut though construction and excavation were observed during a March 19 visit. Authorities said all work at the site has since been halted.The petitioner has questioned the findings, citing inconsistencies in the report, and sought time to file objections before the next hearing.The TTZ spans 10,400 sq km around the Taj Mahal and was created to protect the monument from pollution. It includes Agra, Mathura, Firozabad, Hathras and Etah in Uttar Pradesh, along with Bharatpur in Rajasthan and parts of Aligarh and Dholpur.