The NGT recorded that in Telangana and Maharashtra, several hotspot areas had lost up to 50% of their large farmland trees, with up to 22 trees per square kilometre disappearing. It also noted the smaller hotspot areas of loss around Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
It determined that the news article indicated a violation of the Environment Protection Act and the Forest (Conservation) Act and therefore, issued notices to MoEF and the Principal Chief Conservators of Forest of all three states.
The matter will be heard along with another matter involving the larger issue of encroachment in the country on July 31.
Source: Barandbench
