India, July 19 -- The Uttar Pradesh government has told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that the realignment of the 111km Upper Ganga Canal road project has been approved and at least two months' time is required to receive approvals from the forest department.

The tribunal is currently hearing the matter after taking cognizance of an HT report dated February 1, which revealed that the state forest department had allowed the felling of 112,722 trees and shrubs in protected forest areas across Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Muzaffarnagar divisions to construct two lanes of the proposed road.

During a hearing on July 16, the additional solicitor general (ASG) provided submissions to NGT. The court order was uploaded on July 17. "ASG has submitt...