Tribunal seeks accountability, recovery of Rs 3.81 crore compensatory charges

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir to file a comprehensive affidavit on how over 1,000 trees and saplings were felled in the ecologically sensitive Rajwar Forests of Kupwara without the mandatory compensatory payment of Rs 3.81 crore.

The matter came up before the Principal Bench, chaired by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, with expert members A Senthil Vel, Ishwar Singh and Prashant Gargava. The Tribunal noted “serious lapses in governance” and demanded accountability from senior officers who permitted the violations.

As per the sanction order dated 24 September 2019, the Public Works Department was allowed to use 14 hectares of forest land for Phase-I of the Handwara–Bangus road project, including felling of 447 full-grown trees, 340 poles and 236 saplings of deodar, kail and fir species.

In return, Rs 3.81 crore was to be deposited for Net Present Value, Compensatory Afforestation and Roadside Avenue Plantation. Chief Conservator of Forests (Kashmir) Irfan Rasool Wani admitted that the amount has not been deposited, despite the felling already taking place.

The Tribunal also flagged irregularities in mineral use, with nearly 63,940 MT of material claimed as road-cutting debris, but 2,728 MT remaining unaccounted for. It raised concern over extraction near bridges and sought clarification on wildlife clearance, given Rajwar’s biodiversity, home to the Himalayan black bear, leopard and deer.

The Chief Secretary has six weeks to submit the affidavit. The matter will be reviewed on 11 November 2025.