Ludhiana, Aug. 12 -- The Public Action Committee (PAC) has approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the Punjab Government's order seeking Rs.356 crore from the Forest Department and the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). The committee said the move violates Supreme Court orders, the Compensatory Afforestation Act 2016, NGT directions, and guidelines of the Union ministry of environment, Forest and climate change (MoEFCC).

The dispute arose after a meeting on August 7, chaired by the chief secretary, where various departments were directed to transfer Rs.1,440 crore to the state's finance department. This included Rs.84 crore from the Forest Department, Rs.44 crore from the sale of fallen trees and Rs.40 crore from unused ...