SC declines UP govt permission to fell trees

New Delhi, Jan 9 (UNI) The Supreme Court today refused to grant permission to Uttar Pradesh Government to cut 2332 trees for widening of the road from Kheria airport to the Taj Mahal in Agra.

A bench comprising Justices B B Sinha, S H Kapadia and D K Jain directed the State Government to first seek clearance from Environment Assessment Committee, and granted four weeks time to the State Government to seek clearance.

Amicus Krishnan Mahajan, however, contended in the court that UP Government was trying to mislead the court as more than 5000 trees are to be cut down and not 2332.

No tree can be cut in trapezium zone near Taj Mahal without prior permission of the court.

UNI AKS/SC PY RP HS1542