Trees have been illegally felled in 40.34 hectares of forest land given to Radha Soami Satsang Beas in Haryana’s Panchkula, as per the report of a National Green Tribunal (NGT)-appointed committee.
In April this year, the tribunal formed a three-member committee headed by a retired district judge, after an applicant raised allegations of illegal felling of trees.
The possession of the land was handed over to Radha Soami Satsang Beas in 1998 by the Forest Department of Haryana for setting up a centre, as per the report. When the land was handed over, there were 4,322 trees of different species and 1,128 saplings, the report said.
Transfer conditions
The land was given with conditions, including one that banned felling of trees. “The forest land diverted shall be utilised only for plantation of trees and no construction will be undertaken over the land,” read one of them.
“However, it appears that the Respondent-02 (Radha Soami Satsang) has cleared the natural trees species of the forest and has also constructed certain structures resulting in change in the layout,” the report said.
Published – September 27, 2025 01:38 am IST
