GREATER NOIDA, Feb. 11 -- Expressing its strong displeasure over the illegal felling of 980 trees from the premises of a closed factory in Greater Noida and the alleged inaction of the authorities in tracing those responsible, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), in a recent hearing, directed the chief conservator of forests, Uttar Pradesh, to personally probe the matter and appraise the bench about the legal status of tree felling and the action taken so far.

"We require principal chief conservator of forest to look into the matter personally and appear virtually before the NGT on the next date of hearing to appraise us about the legal status of cutting of tees and the action that has been taken," the NGT bench said, during a hearing on F...