30 July 2019


Between 2015 and 2019, the environment ministry gave permission to cut more than one crore trees doe development work. However, what’s not clear here is that was the environment ministry really thinking about the environment? Or should it be renamed to ‘Development At A Cost’ ministry?

Responding to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State (MoS) for Environment Babul Supriyo said the ministry gave permission to cut 1.09 crore trees for development purposes between 2014 and 2019.

He mentioned that out of all the five years, the highest number of trees were cut in 2018-19 for development.

"Trees are felled for various development purposes with the permission of competent authorities in accordance with the procedure laid down in various Acts. However, the ministry does not maintain data regarding the cutting of trees due to forest fire," Supriyo said.

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