Reply by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on cutting of trees for the construction of a cold storage project, Vikasnagar, Uttarakhand, 09/05/2025
Reply by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in the matter of Yudhveer Singh Chauhan Vs Uttarakhand Forest Department & Others dated 09/05/2025.
The matter related to a cold storage project initiated at Mandi Samiti, Vikasnagar, Uttarakhand without obtaining necessary permissions, including prior approval for felling trees.
In context of consent required to be obtained by the project, the State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees are the concerned authorities to grant consent under the Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981 in their respective jurisdiction of state/Union Territory and to ensure the compliance of conditions of consent and prescribed environmental standards.
In the context of cutting/felling of trees, CPCB submitted that if the trees are situated on forest land, then violations if any found with the trees, then the same are to be dealt by the respective agency as per provisions stipulated under the Indian Forest Act, 1927. The felling and pruning of trees does not fall under the purview of the Uttar Pradesh Protection of Trees Act, 1976 which has been adapted in Uttarakhand vide Uttaranchal Adaptation and Modification Order, 2002.
Letters dated March 28, 2025 sought factual report in the matter had been sent to Uttarakhand Forest Department, Deputy Conservator of Forest (Kalsi, Dehradun), Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board, Uttarakhand Agricultural Produce Marketing Board (UKAPMB) and Vikasnagar Krishi Mandi, Vikasnagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
As per letter of Secretary, Krishi Utpadan Mandi Samiti Vikasnagar, Dehradun, April 4, 2025, proposed cold storage is being constructed by the Construction Division of Uttarakhand Agriculture Production Marketing Board, Rudrapur and the approval for felling of 18 trees which were obstructing the construction work on the land selected for construction of cold storage was given by the Chief Horticulture Officer, Dehradun, vide office letter dated November 19, 2024.
Further, it is informed by the Secretary, Krishi Utpadan Mandi Samiti Vikasnagar (Dehradun) that the evaluation of trees was done by the Division Forest Officer, Kalsi Land Conservation Division, Kalsi vide office letter, November 27, 2024 and approval for cutting/auction of trees was given by the Directorate Uttarakhand Agriculture Produce Marketing Board Rudrapur, Udhamsingh Nagar, December 7, 2024. During inspection, the Regional Officer, Dehradun has found 14 live mango trees and observed that 18 mango trees were cut down out of total 32 mango trees, approval of which was granted by Chief Horticulture Officer, Dehradun.