LUCKNOW, Feb. 3 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change and the principal chief conservator of forest (PCF) of the Uttar Pradesh government, three weeks to explain the felling of trees in the Kukrail reserve forest in Lucknow. Justice Prakash Shrivastava, chairman, NGT, New Delhi, and expert member A Senthil Vel passed the order on January 30 on a petition filed by Alok Singh, a local activist from the state capital. Singh is also a party in the ongoing case in the Supreme Court and NGT related to the proposed shifting of Lucknow Zoo to Kukrail. Singh is opposing the state government's decision. "Despite specific directions of the tribunal passed on December 24, 2024, restraining tree felling in Kukrail Reserve Forest, large-scale unauthorised cutting of trees is taking place there," Singh stated in his affidavit. The matter was reported to the divisional forest officer (DFO) with photographic evidence. But no preventive or punitive steps have been taken, he added. The NGT took note of the tree felling in the Kukrail forest after Singh approached the tribunal with photographs. The tribunal has listed the case for the next hearing on April 20, 2026. htc...