NGT Orders Rs 1.31 Crore Environmental Compensation Recovery in Bhilwara Illegal Tree Felling Case
The Central Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal has issued a significant directive to the Rajasthan forest department, mandating the recovery of environmental compensation amounting to approximately Rs 1.31 crore from eight forest officials and one private individual implicated in extensive illegal tree felling operations within Bhilwara district.
Details of the Tribunal Hearing and Allegations
This directive emerged during proceedings on Monday before a bench comprising judicial member Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi. The hearing addressed an application filed by environmental activist Rajendra Tiwari, who brought forth serious allegations of widespread illegal uprooting of trees from reserved forest lands in Bhilwara, conducted in blatant violation of established environmental regulations.
Representing the applicant, counsel Vaibhav Pancholy presented compelling arguments before the tribunal. "Based on a preliminary inquiry report, the named officials include Divisional Forest Officers Gaurav Garg and Rahul Jagadiya, Assistant Conservator of Forests Payal Mathur, and Range Forest Officer Prabhu Ram Dhun," Pancholy stated. "These individuals are accused of facilitating the illegal uprooting of trees and the unauthorized diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes."
The alleged activities involved the use of 10-15 JCB machines and reportedly contravened multiple provisions of the Forest Conservation Act of 1980. The preliminary inquiry report, which formed the basis of these allegations, assessed the total damage to forest ecosystems at nearly Rs 1.31 crore.
Scale of Environmental Damage and Official Response
The environmental violation is reported to have affected over 250 hectares of precious forest land. Specific impacted areas identified in tribunal documents include:
- Narayanpura Beed Reserved Forest (Asind Range): 58 hectares affected
- Ghas Pilamagara Protected Forest (Shahpura Range): 10.67 hectares affected
Earlier tribunal interventions had directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to initiate strict action and assign the investigation to a confidential team. In response to these directives, the state forest department informed the NGT bench that several officials have already been placed under suspension, with departmental proceedings formally initiated against them.
The matter has been escalated to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, and chargesheets are anticipated to be filed in the near future. During the hearing, counsel for the state confirmed that First Information Reports have been registered and disciplinary proceedings are actively underway against the implicated officials.
Compensation Recovery and Tribunal Directives
A critical point raised during the proceedings concerned the inadequate attention given to compensatory recovery for environmental damage. The tribunal noted this deficiency and issued specific directions for the assessment and recovery of environmental compensation from the erring officials as well as from private individual Peer Mohammad, who was allegedly involved in the illegal activities.
The bench emphasized the urgency of the situation, observing that "the process must be expedited and taken to its logical conclusion." They further stated, "We expect that disciplinary action against the delinquent employees must be taken as soon as possible in due process of law, and necessary environmental damage must be recovered from the persons concerned."
To date, a total of eight officials have been suspended in connection with this case, including:
- One Indian Forest Service officer
- Two Regional Forest Officers
- Three Foresters
- Two Assistant Conservators of Forests
Disciplinary proceedings have been formally initiated against all suspended personnel. The inquiry report presented to the tribunal suggested that additional officials and individuals might be involved, recommending a more comprehensive investigation by an expert agency to uncover the full extent of the violations.
A senior official familiar with the proceedings commented, "The matter remains under active consideration before the tribunal, and directions have been issued to the respondents to file their detailed reply within three weeks." The illegal tree cutting activities were reportedly detected during inspections and inquiries conducted in November 2025, highlighting systemic failures in forest protection mechanisms.
