The Supreme Court has directed the Taj Trapezium Authority to investigate allegations of tree felling in the protected Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), a 10,400-square-kilometer area surrounding the Taj Mahal ¹. The Authority must immediately dispatch officers to the site to verify whether tree felling has occurred or is ongoing, and complete the probe within three weeks.

“We make it clear that Taj Trapezium authority with the help of Police will ensure that no tree felling activity takes place on the land subject matter of Annexure A4,” the Court directed.

The Court also ordered necessary police protection to ensure enforcement of its order and directed the Taj Trapezium Authority to prevent any further tree cutting in the area with police assistance ¹.

The Taj Trapezium Zone was established to curb pollution and environmental degradation threatening historical sites like the Taj Mahal. The Supreme Court had previously directed large-scale tree plantation in the TTZ, closure or relocation of polluting industries, and restricted vehicular movement to protect the monument ¹.

The Court is also set to reconsider an order permitting tree-felling for agro-forestry without prior clearance on March 25 ¹.