CWP No. 1037 of 2010 16.7.2010 Present: Mr. Anand Sharma, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Ravinder Thakur, CGSC, for respondents No. 1 and 2. Mr. Vivek Thakur, Addl. Advocate General with Mr. Rajesh Mandhotra, Dy. A.G. for respondents No. 3 to 5 and 7. Mr. Bimal Gupta, Advocate, for respondent No. 6. Mr. Bimal Gupta, learned Counsel has filed power of attorney on behalf of respondent No. 6. 2. On the last date we made a suggestion to respondent No. 6 that keeping in view the environment of the area it should take steps to plant at least ten times the number of trees felled and maintain them for a period of five years. Today Mr. Vivek Thakur, learned Addl. Advocate General has shown to us a letter of the Conservator of Forests, Mandi Circle Mandi (H.P.) according to which in case 6430 trees of Deodar, Ban, Drek, Ritha and Chimu are planted and maintained by the Forest Department for five years the cost thereof will be Rs. 4,43,600/- only. Letter taken on record. We think that this amount is reasonable. Mr. Bimal Gupta, learned Counsel for respondent No. 6 under instructions on behalf of his client submits that his client has no objection to plant 6430 trees but it is submitted that the Power Grid Corporation has no experience and the Forest Department be directed to make available the land and plant the trees and the Power Grid Corporation shall pay the cost for the same. Mr. Bimal Gupta, learned Counsel has also filed the affidavit of Sh. Anil Sharma, Chief Manager of the respondent No. 6 in this regard. -2- 3. Keeping in view the letter of the Conservator of Forests, Mandi Circle and the affidavit filed by the Power Grid Corporation the writ petition is disposed of with the following directions :- 1. That respondent No. 6 shall pay to the Conservator of Forest, Mandi a sum of Rs. 4,43,600/- in terms of letter dated 14.7.2010 within a period of four weeks from today. The Forest Department shall thereafter provide land and plant 6430 trees of the varieties mentioned in the letter and maintain them for a period of five years. 2. The Conservator of Forests, Mandi shall not mix up the budget of this plantation with other schemes and shall maintain a separate account in this regard. 3. Since the Power Grid Corporation has agreed to pay this amount we direct the Conservator of Forests, Mandi to start the plantation work immediately without waiting for the deposit of the amount so that the advantage of the monsoon season can be taken. In case the amount is not deposited within four weeks the Conservator of Forests, Mandi may move appropriate application before us and then we shall pass necessary direction which may include payment of penal interest by the Power Grid Corporation. 4. Though the petition stands disposed of the Conservator of Forests, Mandi shall file his affidavit giving latest status report regarding the plantation. First affidavit shall be filed on or before 30th November, 2010 showing the status of the plantation alongwith photographs. Thereafter the Conservator of Forests, Mandi shall file six monthly -3- reports for a period of five years. Dasti copy. (Deepak Gupta), Judge. (Sanjay Karol), Judge. July 16, 2010 (PK)