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BHOPAL: The central zone bench of National Green Tribunal on Thursday questioned the rationale and legality of permission granted to NHAI for felling more than 8,700 trees to widen a 16km road stretch in Bhopal, reports Ashutosh Shukla. Referring to a petition in this regard, the bench asked the NGT chairperson to transfer the plea to the green body’s Delhi bench requesting a nationwide policy in granting permissions for largescale felling of trees for developmental projects. The permission to cut over 8,700 trees for the NHAI project was given in Dec by a centrally empowered committee constituted by MP govt at the behest of NGT central zone bench under the chairmanship of the additional chief secretary, urban administration. Following the permission, NHAI, with the help of Bhopal municipal corporation, started cutting trees at the site even as a petition was moved before NGT against it.
