Chennai: The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal, Chennai, on Friday prevented the management of the Indian Institute of TecÂhnology (IIT), Madras, from felling trees in the campus for enhancing infrastructural facilities.
Passing an interim order, the bench, comprising judicial member Justice M. Chockalingam and expert member R. Nagendran, ordered notice to the director IIT Madras, secrÂetÂary, environment and forÂests, TaÂmil Nadu, principal chief conservator of forests and member secretary, CMDA.
It was in the 1950s that IIT Madras was handed over forest land on the condition that not more than 15 per cent of it should be cleared for the purpose of construction.
The 15 per cent mark had already been breached, the bench said, the management having felled thousands of trees without obtaÂining permission, which was illegal, for the purpose of new infrastructure.
It’s for more proposed infrastructure that 10,000 more trees will be felled. The bench stated that, under such circumstances the tribunal, in view of the seriousness of the matter, should take suo moto cognisance, which warranted immediate interference by granting an interim injunction against the authorities of IIT from felling trees within the IIT campus until further orders.
M. R.Gokul Krishnan, coÂunsel for environment and forests, has taken the notice for the secretary, environment and forests, Tamil Nadu, and principal chief conservator of forests.
