Supreme Court Imposed Fine: On Tuesday (March 18, 2025), the Supreme Court imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation Limited for furthering the construction of the flyover in the Taj Trapezium Zone without permission. A bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Ujjal Bhuiyan expressed surprise at the state government’s firm’s attitude and questioned its decision that includes demolishing and transferring several trees in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).
The bench was hearing several interim petitions in a pending PIL filed by the environmentalist MC Mehta in a pending PIL filed on the conservation of flora and fauna in the Taj Mahal and TTZ. TTZ is spread over an area of ​​about 10,400 square kilometers, which is spread in Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras and Etah districts of Uttar Pradesh as well as Bharatpur district of Rajasthan.
‘How can trees fall without our consent’
Justice Oka asked, “You are government utility. You are aware of the orders passed by this court. How can you pursue project and cutting of trees without our prior consent?” The bench directed the Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation Limited (UPSBCL) to deposit Rs 5 lakh in the account of the National Environment Engineering Research Institute before considering the corporation’s petition, in which he had demanded a demolition of about 198 trees for the construction of his bridge in the area.
Court directed TTZ authority
The bench said, “This is not a proper conduct from the State Corporation.” The bench said that compulsory forestry should be done before putting pressure for harvesting and transfer of trees. The bench clarified that it would not give “omnipresent” to run and open industrial or other units in TTZ. Instructing the TTZ Authority to deploy officers on the site immediately, asked to find out whether a tree cutting activity was done or running.
The court said, “Necessary police protection will be provided. We clarify that the Taj Trapezium Authority will ensure that there is no tree cutting activity on the land.”
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