Being Custodian, It's The State Which Must First Assess If Tree-Felling Is Even Required: Supreme Court

While hearing a public interest litigation with respect to the environmental issues in the Taj Trapezium Zone, the Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed displeasure at private parties seeking permission to fell trees for industrial projects without first approaching the custodian of subject land and/or providing a concrete plan for compensatory afforestation.The Bench. While hearing a public interest litigation with respect to the environmental issues in the Taj Trapezium Zone, the Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed displeasure at private parties seeking permission to fell trees for industrial projects without first approaching the custodian of subject land and/or providing a concrete plan for compensatory afforestation. Observing that entities keep approaching the court saying that State of UP has allowed them access to land, the court orally remarked to UP's counsel that the State must apply its mind on whether it is necessary to fell trees or some other land can be allotted, as well as how people are applying without there being any allotment letter by the State. To quote Justice Oka, "This is very shocking, you are not the owner of which these trees are situated, you are applying for permission.it's not your property.you want to apply for cutting trees on somebody else's land without consent of that somebody else, what is this going on?"