Supreme Court directs probe into tree felling in Taj Trapezium Zone

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Taj Trapezium Authority to investigate allegations of tree felling in the protected Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), a defined area of around Taj Mahal where polluting activities are banned in order to protect the monument [MC Mehta V. Union of India].A Bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan directed the Taj Trapezium Authority to immediately dispatch its officers to the site and verify whether tree felling has occurred or is ongoing The probe has to be complete within three weeks. The Court also ordered that necessary police protection be provided to ensure enforcement of its order."The contention for learned counsel appearing for applicant is that the land mentioned in environmental clearance at Annexure A4 is part of Taj Trapezium area, on which tree felling activity has been done. We direct the third respondent, Taz Trapezium authority, to immediately depute it's officers to the site, with a view to ascertain whether any tree felling activity has been done or any tree feeling activity continues .Necessary police protection shall be provided," the order said..The Court also made it clear that the Taj Trapezium Authority, with the assistance of the police, must prevent any further tree cutting in the area."We make it clear that Taj Trapezium authority with the help of Police will ensure that no tree felling activity takes place on the land subject matter of Annexure A4," the Court directed..The Court was hearing a plea alleging that unauthorised tree felling was done on land falling within the Taj Trapezium Zone..The Taj Trapezium Zone is a 10,400-square-kilometer protected area surrounding the Taj Mahal and other heritage monuments in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. It was established to curb pollution and environmental degradation threatening these historical sites.To improve air quality, the Supreme Court of India in 1996 directed large-scale tree plantation in the TTZ. Additionally, it ordered the closure or relocation of over 200 polluting industries and mandated a switch to cleaner fuels like CNG or LPG.The Court also restricted vehicular movement, promoted battery-operated vehicles and banned construction and mining activities near the monument to further protect the Taj Mahal..During the hearing of the matter on March 5, the Bench had taken strong exception to an order passed by the Supreme Court on December 11, 2019, which permitted tree-felling for agro-forestry without requiring prior clearance from the Court.The Bench had then issued notice to reconsider the order, questioning how such an exemption could be granted when even an ordinary citizen with two or three trees needed permission to cut them.That issue will be considered on March 25. .Read Live Coverage