The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to complete the proceedings to levy an environmental compensation (EC) of ₹2.65 crore on the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) for illegal felling of 33 trees, including seven sandalwood trees, as per a recent court order. 

On August 11 last year, the NGT had directed the UPPCB to assess and recover the EC within three months, but it was not done.

The Principal Bench of the NGT, comprising of Chairperson Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Afroz Ahmad, gave the current order while hearing an execution application filed by advocate Saurabh Tiwari seeking compliance of the August 11 order. 

“Learned counsel appearing for the UPPCB has submitted that the UPPCB is in the process of levying the environmental compensation, the calculation of which has already been disclosed in the above affidavit and the proceedings concerning the levy of the environmental compensation will be completed by the UPPCB within three months,” the court said in an order dated July 7. 

“Though, the UPPCB has not carried out the direction of the Tribunal to complete the proceedings within three months from the date of the order of the OA but considering the circumstances which are disclosed we extent the time further and direct the UPPCB to complete the proceedings concerning the levy of environmental compensation,” the order said. 

As compensation for the trees felled, 978 trees of different species were planted by the University in 2025 and 859 were found to be surviving in a safe condition, as per a report submitted to the court. “The counsel for the Respondent University has pointed out that the surviving saplings are more than the plantation required by the order of the Tribunal,” the order said.