NGT notice to forest officer on order ‘violation’

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 20

The Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Hills, Harsh Kumar, is again in news for allegedly violating orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding the ban on felling of trees in the state.

The NGT has issued him a notice acting on a petition by Sangrur-based environmental activist Dr Amardeep Aggarwal, questioning the letters written by him to project developers allegedly stating that the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) notification would cease to exist in February.

Though the state government extended the PLPA notification earlier this month, rendering the communication by the CCF to the builders irrelevant, the petitioner contended that despite the NGT ban on felling of trees, the orders issued by the CCF had created unnecessary confusion that trees could be axed after the expiry of the PLPA notification.

On the basis of the letter, the officer was transferred from the post of CCF (Hills), which was later stayed by the tribunal.

When contacted, Kumar said his letter had been wrongly interpreted by the petitioner. “In the letter, I have mentioned that it was keeping in view the judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court titled ‘Gram Panchayat Majrian and others versus Union of India and others’. I am being repeatedly targeted as I have unearthed scam worth Rs 48 lakh in Derabassi under the Green India Mission. The role of certain senior officers of the department has come under the scanner.”