New Delhi [India], April 5
BJP leader Tajinder Bagga attacked Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, by erecting billboards in New Delhi regarding the cutting of trees in Kancha Gachibowli village, which is close to Hyderabad University.
The billboards read, "Rahul Gandhi ji, please stop cutting down our jungles in Telangana."
On April 3, the Supreme Court noted the cutting of trees in the Kancha Gachibowli forest area and ordered the stopping of tree cutting. The court issued a warning to the Chief Secretary regarding the effects if its directive was not adhered to.
Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih underlined, "This is a very serious matter. You can't take the law into your own hands."
They ordered that no work should be done at the site until further orders, apart from safeguarding the trees already planted.
The court also indicated that the Chief Secretary of Telangana would personally be responsible and action would be initiated if the orders of the court were not strictly adhered to.
The Chief Secretary was requested to respond to the queries of the court regarding why an emergency had arisen in the name of development work, like felling trees in the forest.
The court questioned whether the state had taken environmental impact assessment certificates and permissions from forest agencies or any other concerned authorities and asked the Chief Secretary to submit the same in an affidavit.
Also, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) was asked to go to the site and file a report by April 16.
While going through a report of the Registrar (Judicial) of the Telangana High Court, which inspected the site, the bench observed that major development work was being undertaken in the forest area.
"The Registrar (Judicial) report along with the photographs forwarded by him presents a picture of alarm. Large numbers of trees are being cut, besides large machinery is being used to destroy an area of approximately 100 acres. The report has also discovered that some peacocks, deers and birds were also spotted in the said area. prima facie shows that there was a forest inhabited by the wild animals," said the apex court.
The property is situated in the IT corridor of Hyderabad and has turned controversial with individuals voicing concerns regarding the depletion of green cover and wildlife habitat there.
