Giving relief to the ambitious project of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the widening of Agra-Etawah road, the Supreme Court today allowed felling of 3847 trees falling around the Taj Trapezium zone near medieval monument of Taj Mahal.
A bench headed by Justice T S Thakur granted permission to the NHAI to cut the 3847 trees as also 3205 other trees falling in the protected forest area on the condition that the land for compensatory afforestation is identified first.
The bench said that under the compensatory afforestation, 23,000 trees should be planted.
Counsel for Central Pollution Control Board (CPCBB) Vijay Panjwani said no complaint has been received till now that compliance of the order for compulsary afforestation was not done.
Uttar Pradesh government said NHAI or whoever executes the project will have to deposit the money to the state government or its agencies for compensatory afforestation.
The project for widening of existing 4-lane to 6-lane from Agra to Etawah bypass of NH-2 is of 124km with around 23km road coming under Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).
