M C MEHTA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) As per the third Taj Report submitted by the Krishan Mahajan committee appointed by this Court on 5-4-2000 for seeing that 12,15,500 plants planted by the Forest Department by spending Rs. 4. 03 crores of public money from the Mission Management Board funds survive rescue operation is required to be taken immediately. For that purpose in the report the following submissions are made:

(2.) Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Union Government submits that the proposals are not received from the State Government and as soon as the proposal is received, 50% of the amount required to be spent would be immediately granted to the Mission Management Board. Learned 9 counsel appearing on behalf of the State of U. P. says that remaining 50% of the amount would be released on or before 31-1-2001. The Divisional Forest officer, Agra is directed to take immediate steps for seeing that the water is supplied to the plants as per Annexure 1 prepared by him which is annexed to the report. The Union Government is directed to release the funds immediately without waiting for the receipt of the proposals from the U. P. Government on the basis of the copy of the report. Funding may up subsequently settled with the U. P. Government, but in any set of circumstances for want of funds the officer is directed to see that the plants do not wither away.