NGT blames officials for axing of trees in Barnala, theft FIR against unknown persons

Bathinda: Police have registered an FIR for theft against unknown persons in connection with the illegal felling of trees in Barnala despite a National Green Tribunal (NGT) committee recommending officials be charged with theft of public property and criminal breach of trust.Officials of the Barnala Improvement Trust, along with other authorities, have been accused of illegally uprooting a large number of trees, including several heritage trees estimated to be 50 years old. Following formal complaints, a three-member NGT committee visited the site on April 30 and submitted its report on May 12. The report indicted trust authorities for being allegedly complicit in the destruction and misappropriation of trees, recommending that the SSP be directed to register an FIR against them. Barnala SSP Sarfaraz Alam told TOI that the FIR was registered on May 17, following letters written by the Improvement Trust executive officer on March 2 and 30 claiming the trees had been stolen. The SSP cited verification of facts as the reason for the delay in registration. The SSP denied that the police had received any official communication from the NGT regarding the FIR. "Appropriate action will be taken once we receive official communication," he said. Despite repeated attempts, Improvement Trust executive officer Rajesh Kumar did not respond to calls for comment. The NGT recommendation was made under Section 4.1 of the ‘Tree Preservation Policy for Non-Forest Government and Public Lands-2024', which mandates that landowners use provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to penalise offenders and deter illicit felling. The committee also recommended the competent authority immediately initiate formal disciplinary proceedings under the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules against the complicit officials. Following the unauthorised felling, the forest department conducted an assessment to determine the volume and commercial value of the uprooted wood. Based on girth measurements and the schedule of compensation rates 2025, the market value for 55 identifiable trees has been calculated at Rs 1.31 lakh. The committee recommended that this assessed value be recovered as a penalty from the responsible officials. MSID:: 131198464 413 |