Mangaluru: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the principal license holder for the Yettinahole river water lift project Kaveri Niravari Nigam limited (KNNL) not to cut anymore trees at the site of the project.

The NGT has asked the government as to who asked them to cut the trees and transport them. The government and the Forest Ministry had earlier informed that only 1.3 acres of forest would be lost due to the felling of trees.

Advocate K N Somashekar had filed an application seeking stay on the Yettinahole project. Advocate Prince Isaac submitted to the Principal Bench headed by justice Swathantrakumar that large trees are being cut from the project area causing damage to the ecological sensitive area of the Western Ghats.

Prince Isaac pointed out that the advocate for the state of Karnataka lied to the court that due permission was taken to cut and remove the trees. He said an FIR is registered against KNNL which indicates that due permission was not obtained.

The bench took note of the illegal cutting of trees, and directed that there shall be no cutting of trees in the project area. The Bench also directed the counsel for KNNL to find out the total number of trees cut, and directed to plant 10 times the number of trees felled, and to report the same to the Tribunal by the next hearing date.

The matter is posted for final hearing on the stay application is September 21, 2016.