Green Bench stays felling of trees for Yettinahole Project

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Nov 8,2016: The Green Bench of the Supreme Court has issued a stay to the permission granted by the Union Forest Ministry to the felling of 5000 trees for the Yettinahole project.

The Union Forest Ministry had earlier permitted felling of trees in 13.93 areas in Sakleshpur forest limits for the project. Close on the heels of  this, the State Forest  Department had ordered felling of 4,995 trees in the area as well as 1,332 bamboo trees and transport the same to Hassan depot.

However this directive of the government was questioned by environmental activist KN Somashekhar who had moved the Green Tribunal. The Tribunal which heard the case had  issued a stay order to the government directive. Advocates Prince Isaac and  Ritvik Datta had argued that trees were being felled   without  following any rules.

The court  has said that the stay will be in vogue until further orders and has adjourned the  hearing to November 11.