Question : CUTTING OF TREES BY MNCS

(a) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the news-items captioned `MNCs cutting trees for parking slots`, appearing in the Pioneer, dated January 27, 2000;

(b) if so, whether several Multi National Companies and other big giants are constructing parking slots by cutting trees along the National Highways;

(c) whether the Central Pollution Control Board had conducted any inquiry in this regard;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to check such unauthorised cutting of trees by MNCs along the National Highways?

MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI T.R. BAALU)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.




STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PART (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.256 FOR 13.3.2000 REGARDING CUTTING OF TREES BY MNCs

(a) Yes, Sir
(b) to (e) The subject matter is primarily the responsibility of the state governments who are required to take cognizance under the provisions of Indian Forest Act, 1927 and other relevant Acts and Rules. The Government of India had accordingly requested Government of Haryana to have an enquiry made into the violations mentioned in the news item and take appropriate necessary legal action in the matter. It has now been intimated by the Forest Department, Government of Haryana, that the said parking lot is in front of a private company Gurgaon and the land belongs to Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation. In this area some parks have been created and vehicles are parked on the land lying vacant. No felling of trees was noticed here by the Forest Department of Haryana and no Multi National Company has felled any tree along the National Highway for parking of vehicles. No enquiry has been conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board as the subject matter relates to the state government.