NGT pulls up Government over tree felling, unpaid Rs 3.81 Cr compensation for Handwara–Bangus Road
Srinagar, Aug 27: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir to explain how over 1,000 trees, poles, and saplings were felled in Rajwar Forests, Kupwara, for the Handwara–Bangus road project without payment of compensatory charges worth `3.81 crore.
The matter was heard by the Tribunal’s Principal Bench on Tuesday, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson), Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member), Mr. Ishwar Singh (Expert Member), and Dr. Prashant Gargava (Expert Member)
The Tribunal, while hearing the case on Tuesday, also asked the Chief Secretary to spell out disciplinary action against officials who allowed the violations and to disclose whether similar irregularities exist in other projects across the Union Territory.
Under the 2019 sanction for Phase I of the project, the PWD R&B Department was permitted to use 14 hectares of dense forest land, involving the felling of 447 trees, 340 poles, and 236 saplings, mainly deodar, kail, and fir. The department was required to pay compensation under various heads, including Net Present Value, Compensatory Afforestation, and Roadside Avenue Plantation. However, officials admitted before the Tribunal that no payments had been made despite tree felling having already taken place.
The NGT also flagged serious irregularities in the use of construction material. A compliance report revealed that 74,461 metric tonnes of material were used in the project, while disposal permits were obtained for only 7,792 MT. A discrepancy of 2,728 MT remained unexplained, raising concerns of illegal mineral extraction. The Secretary, Mining Department, has been tasked with clarifying the shortfall and detailing action against officials involved.
The Tribunal further noted that riverbed material had been lifted dangerously close to bridges, including Sultanpura Galgazna and Nallah Talri at Dhobi Ghat, potentially endangering their structural stability. It also sought clarification on whether mandatory wildlife clearance was obtained, given the Rajwar Forest is home to endangered species like the Himalayan black bear, leopard, jackal, and deer.
The petition was originally filed by Handwara-based lawyer and RTI activist Rasikh Rasool Bhat, who also pointed out that work on Phase-II of the project had begun without approval, violating environmental norms.
The NGT’s order reads: “The Chief Secretary, J&K must file an affidavit within six weeks, clarifying how the violations occurred, fixing responsibility on erring officers, and detailing disciplinary action taken. The affidavit must also include a list of other projects where trees were cut and compensation amounts remain unpaid. The Secretary, Mining Department must explain the mineral discrepancies and actions against illegal extraction. The Rs 3.81 crore compensation must be recovered within two months."
The Tribunal has directed the Chief Secretary to file a detailed affidavit within six weeks, fix responsibility on erring officers, and recover the pending `3.81 crore within two months. The matter will be reviewed again on November 11, 2025.
