NEW DELHI, JANUARY 20: The forest department has issued a show-cause notice to the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) authorities alleging indiscriminate felling of trees on the campus to facilitate construction of hostels.Officials of the forest department visited the university campus last week and found tree stumps at the site of the construction. They came back to categorically state that the natural vegetation of the surrounding area makes it clear that trees have indeed been felled to make way for concrete structures.University officials, however, have denied all the charges.According to Conservator of Forests H.C. Dhawan: ``There are several Acts that have been violated by the university authorities. Firstly, they have cut trees without our permission. Secondly, they have carried out construction in an area classified as a natural forest and is considered a part of the Ridge. They have also violated the Master Plan 2001 according to which this is a green area and nothing can be constructed here. And it is also a contempt of the Supreme Court ruling given in 1996.''According to Dhawan, JNU authorities have violated the Delhi Tree Preservation Act 1994, the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 and have also ignored the Supreme Court ruling that no construction can be carried out in the forest area. The 500 hectares on which the sprawling campus is built, is classified as the city's best natural forest area. And currently, construction work is in progress for four new hostels for research scholars, scientists, one for working women and the second wing of Tapti hostel on campus.However, JNU officials maintain that they have not felled a single tree. Rector Prof Rehmatullah Khan said: ``We have not cut a single tree. The entire area where we have carried out the construction has a rocky terrain and we might have chopped a few bushes here and there, but nothing beyond that. We have never tampered with the natural vegetation. In fact, we are the ones who planted trees here and have made it so green. There were hardly any trees here when we were allotted this land in 1969.''Echoing his statement is Prof Mridula Mukherjee, Chairperson of the Campus Development Committee. ``For several years we have been trying to raise awareness about environment in the campus. Recently we passed a proposal in the Executive Council, the highest body of the university, that a section of the campus should be declared natural reserved forest. It was a voluntary decision. If it was already a forest area, why would we go to such lengths to preserve the area?''Prof Mukherjee added that the university authorities would never cut trees to facilitate construction work. ``On the contrary we have been working to green the area further. We have planned a special botanical garden, which would have all the flora endemic to the Ridge. We are aware that JNU is a vital lung of the city all because of the untiring efforts of the university authorities. Why would we go about destroying it?'' she questioned.However Dhawan maintains that the law has indeed been violated and they have even recorded statements of the labourers working at the site. ``It is a grave offence and those found guilty can be fined and even jailed. We have done our job, now they have to send us a reply to the charges".
