Uttar Pradesh Denies Allegations of Excessive Tree Felling for Kanwar Marg Project in Submission to NGT

By Editor in Chief On Jul 16, 2025

In a detailed affidavit submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Uttar Pradesh government has firmly denied allegations of illegal or excessive tree felling in connection with the construction of the Kanwar Marg — a proposed 111-kilometer-long road being developed between Murad Nagar and Purkaji along the Upper Ganga Canal near the Uttarakhand border.

The government’s response comes in reaction to a report by Meera Iyer, Joint Director of the Forest Survey of India (FSI), who had earlier submitted evidence alleging that trees were being felled beyond the permitted 20-meter right of way (RoW) — the officially sanctioned width for construction along the canal.

#KanwarMarg #TreeFellingAllegations #EnvironmentalOversight

NGT’s Suo Moto Probe into Green Concerns

The NGT had taken suo motu cognizance of the matter, based on reports of large-scale environmental damage, including the alleged axing of trees beyond permissible limits.

In February this year, the NGT’s Principal Bench directed the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary to thoroughly examine the claims and submit an official position, with supporting evidence. The state’s affidavit was filed on May 21, 2025.

#NGT #EnvironmentalJustice #UPGovernment

UP Govt Asserts No Tree Felling Beyond Permitted Zone

According to the UP government’s affidavit, which includes a site inspection report, no instance of tree felling was found beyond the approved 20-meter-wide RoW at any of the 13 sample locations inspected. The investigation involved:

Physical site visits
Examination of old satellite imagery (specifically from Google Earth)
Cross-referencing with Public Works Department (PWD) documents

“After thorough analysis, no conclusive evidence was found to support the claim that trees were felled beyond the proposed 20-meter RoW,” the affidavit states.

#SustainableDevelopment #UPInfrastructure

Govt Counters FSI’s Measurements, Cites Technical Error

The report also challenges the methodology used by the FSI Joint Director, Meera Iyer. It alleges that her interpretation of satellite imagery was flawed, leading to incorrect width measurements.

The state explained that Iyer’s measurements possibly included the 7.5-meter-wide safety embankment or “dole” — a raised strip built by the Irrigation Department to protect canal banks — as part of the construction width. This, according to UP officials, distorted the actual RoW data.

#ForestSurveyDispute #SatelliteImageryLimits

Senior Forest Official Inspected Site Along Ganga Canal

To verify compliance on the ground, Lalit Kumar Verma, the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests from Lucknow, visited the Ganga Canal project area in April 2025, accompanied by officials from the PWD and the Irrigation Department. Their collective findings were compiled and included in the state’s official submission.

#FieldInspection #ForestConservation

FSI Had Earlier Flagged Environmental Violations

Earlier this year, Meera Iyer had filed an independent submission to the NGT, separate from the joint committee’s report.

She alleged that tree-felling had exceeded the 20-meter sanctioned limit at several points along the Kanwar Marg alignment. Iyer backed her claims with photographic evidence and comparative satellite imagery from the years 2022 and 2024, claiming visible differences in the vegetative cover.

#FSIReport #EnvironmentalImpact

Kanwar Marg: A Strategic Pilgrimage and Transit Corridor

The Kanwar Marg, once completed, will run parallel to the right branch of the Upper Ganga Canal, linking Murad Nagar in Uttar Pradesh to Purkaji, which lies close to the Uttarakhand border. The road has been envisioned primarily to facilitate the safe and smooth movement of Kanwar pilgrims during the annual religious pilgrimage season.

However, the UP government has also justified the road as a major public infrastructure project meant to decongest traffic and improve regional connectivity for both pilgrimage and routine vehicular movement.

#KanwarYatra #PilgrimageRoute #PublicInfrastructure

Over 17,000 Trees Already Felled for Road Construction

As per the government’s affidavit, a 62-kilometer stretch of the road has already been completed, and a total of 17,607 trees have been cut with official permission for this part of the project. The remaining stretch is currently under development and remains under scrutiny by green watchdogs and legal authorities.

#DeforestationWatch #GreenTribunal

Conclusion: Dispute Between State and FSI Remains Unsettled

While the UP government has categorically denied all charges of unauthorized tree felling, the NGT has yet to issue a final ruling. The tribunal will continue to examine evidence, including both the state’s affidavit and the FSI’s photographic documentation, before arriving at a conclusive judgment.

As debates continue between development and environmental sustainability, the case underscores the challenges of executing large-scale infrastructure projects while adhering to strict environmental safeguards.

#KanwarMarg #TreeFellingAllegations #UPGovernment #NGT #EnvironmentalOversight #SustainableDevelopment #KanwarYatra #InfrastructureVsEcology #FSIReport #GreenTribunal