NGT Issues Show-Cause Notice to Pune Collector’s Office Over Absence in Tree Felling Hearing

Pune, 23rd April 2024: The Western Zone bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a show-cause notice to the Pune District Collector’s office for failing to attend the hearing regarding the felling of trees in the Wanowrie area. During the same session, the bench also directed the Maharashtra Forest Department to provide an affidavit concerning the necessary permissions for tree felling.

In response to media reports on the tree cutting in the proposed eco-park area within the reserve forest at Wanowrie, the NGT’s bench has taken proactive measures. The Maharashtra Eco-tourism has initiated the construction of an Eco-Tourism Park on reserved forest land situated behind Ruby Hall Clinic at Wanowrie.

This park, spanning four acres, has drawn allegations from residents stating that the forest department has felled approximately 100 Giripushpa (Gliricidia sepium) trees. Acting independently, the Bench referred the matter to the West Zone and directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of the Maharashtra Forest Department to provide a written response regarding the tree felling. These directives were issued by a bench comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh, Judicial Member, and Vijay Kulkarni, Expert Member, NGT.

The initial hearing regarding this matter took place on April 18. According to the affidavit provided by the PCCF, “the trees being felled belong to the Gliricidia sepium variety, locally known as Giripushpa. This tree species is considered highly invasive. Furthermore, these trees are being systematically removed from the forest area by the forest department, as outlined in the department’s procedures.”

Additionally, the NGT issued a show cause notice to the Pune Collector’s office for their absence during the court hearing. Despite prior notice of the hearing, no authorized representative appeared before the Tribunal on behalf of the Collector. Furthermore, there has been no confirmation of the submission of a response affidavit in the current original application, as stated in the notice.

The order also emphasized that if no representative appears on behalf of the Collector’s office on the upcoming date, i.e., April 26, the tribunal instructs the Collector or Magistrate to personally attend the court proceedings.