In a recent directive, the Supreme Court has ordered the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, to reassess its budget for conducting a tree census in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ). The directive, issued on Tuesday by a bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, highlighted concerns over the proposed timelines and potential overlaps in activities with similar ongoing efforts in Delhi.
The Court expressed the need for the FRI to streamline its budget, suggesting that some of the infrastructure utilized in Delhi’s tree survey could be effectively repurposed for the TTZ. As a result, the FRI has been given four weeks to submit a revised budget and timelines.
This decision follows the Court’s previous order on March 26, which mandated the FRI to undertake the inaugural tree census in Delhi while also enhancing the green cover of the city. The FRI’s work is set to be carried out in three phases over a three-and-a-half-year period.
The initiative stems from the Supreme Court’s earlier directions to the TTZ authority to commission the FRI for a tree census in the zone, which spans approximately 10,400 square kilometers across districts in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. This move is aimed at bolstering the enforcement of the UP Protection of Trees Act, 1976, which emphasizes tree preservation and the prevention of illegal felling.
The top court has also underscored the importance of maintaining a detailed record of existing trees and establishing a vigilant monitoring system to prevent unauthorized tree felling in the area. These measures are considered critical for the effective implementation of the 1976 Act and for safeguarding the environment surrounding historical landmarks, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Taj Mahal.
In addition, the bench is addressing a plea concerning unauthorized tree felling in the TTZ, stressing the urgent need for a tree census and a robust mechanism to monitor and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. The plea highlights broader environmental concerns and the necessity to preserve historical monuments and their vicinities from ecological degradation.
In a related hearing last year, the Supreme Court had warned of stringent actions, including the possible demolition and restoration of land or highways to their original state, if the directives regarding compulsory afforestation in the TTZ were not adhered to by the responsible authorities.
