Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding felling of trees by solar power companies, village Kunidhar, Almora, Uttarakhand, 13/02/2025
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Bhuwan Chandra Bhatt Vs Member Secretary, Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board & Others dated 13/02/2025.
The application, based on a letter petition, a resident of village Kunidhar, tehsil Bhikiasen, Almora had made a complaint about indiscriminate felling of Chir and Banj trees by the solar power companies.
The reply by DFO, Almora dated July 23, 2024 stated that Northern Solar Energy Private Limited was found responsible for the felling of 35 trees and the offence under the Uttar Pradesh Protection of Trees Act, 1976 was registered against it. The report stated that the penalty was recovered but the report did not state the exact amount. The report of the DFO, Almora, July 23, 2024 stated that in addition to 35 trees 10 more trees were found to be cut whereast the permission was for cutting of four Chir trees. For the six illegally cut trees, a criminal offence was registered. However, the details of the offence has not been disclosed in the report.
The DFO, Almora in a subsequent report, February 11, 2025 disclosed that during two days joint inspection conducted on October 25 - 26, 2024 by the officers of the Forest and Revenue department, it was found that 348 trees of Chir and Banj were cut and in respect of these 348 trees, offence against the landowners has been registered.
An inspection report by the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB) filed on July 22, 2024 disclosed that 3 solar power plants (solar power generation through photo-voltaic cells) have been set up and these 3 plants are Bindal Laser House; Northern Solar Energy and SRN Sun N Solar Energy.
The report of the DFO, Almora dated February 11, 2025 "clearly mentioned that during the joint inspection, the remains of 348 illegally cut trees were found within the area of the solar plant. Illegal felling of trees not only requires action as contemplated under the Act of 1976, but the action is also required by the UKPCB for causing environmental damage on account of such illegal felling of trees".
UKPCB informed the court that action would be taken for imposition of environmental compensation upon the persons/ entities / companies found responsible for the illegal felling of trees. Counsel representing DFO, Almora and District Magistrate, Almora has also submitted that the authorities will ascertain the role of the solar power companies in the illegal felling of trees and will take appropriate action.
The NGT, February 13, 2025 directed the authorities to file a fresh action taken report within eight weeks. The next hearing of the case will be held on May 19, 2025.