The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that it will not hold back to protect the environment and ecology and said that the government of Telangana had only two options- either restore the green cover or be ready for some of its senior-most officers being put in jail for violation of court orders.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appeared for the state and said any error was "bonafide and unintentional" and assured that government would follow the court's direction. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and A G Masih responded that if government wanted to save its chief secretary and other officers from going to jail, then it has to come up with revival plan of the damaged area.
"If you want the chief secretary to be saved from severe action, you have to come out with a plan as to how you will restore those hundred acres... Otherwise, we don't know how many of your officers will have to go to a temporary prison constructed at the same spot near the lake," the bench said. "For protection of environment and ecology, we will go out of the way if needed," it added.
Singhvi said about 1,300-odd trees were exempted by self-certification in terms of the statute, adding that there were certain species of plants which were exempted. However, the bench responded that without the court's permission, felling of any kind of trees was not permitted and it was done in violation of its order.
The bench said that court's permission was required even for projects of national importance, like widening roads in border areas for strategic purposes,. It said Telangana government could not justify its action.
The bench further said it was shocked to see visuals of wild animals running for shelter after the green cover was removed. It sought a report from the state's wildlife warden on the steps taken to protect wildlife and allowed Singhvi's plea for one month's time to prepare a revival plan for the area.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appeared for the state and said any error was "bonafide and unintentional" and assured that government would follow the court's direction. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and A G Masih responded that if government wanted to save its chief secretary and other officers from going to jail, then it has to come up with revival plan of the damaged area.
"If you want the chief secretary to be saved from severe action, you have to come out with a plan as to how you will restore those hundred acres... Otherwise, we don't know how many of your officers will have to go to a temporary prison constructed at the same spot near the lake," the bench said. "For protection of environment and ecology, we will go out of the way if needed," it added.
Singhvi said about 1,300-odd trees were exempted by self-certification in terms of the statute, adding that there were certain species of plants which were exempted. However, the bench responded that without the court's permission, felling of any kind of trees was not permitted and it was done in violation of its order.
The bench said that court's permission was required even for projects of national importance, like widening roads in border areas for strategic purposes,. It said Telangana government could not justify its action.
The bench further said it was shocked to see visuals of wild animals running for shelter after the green cover was removed. It sought a report from the state's wildlife warden on the steps taken to protect wildlife and allowed Singhvi's plea for one month's time to prepare a revival plan for the area.
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