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SC chides Agra forest department over wrong affidavits

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New Delhi/Agra: The Supreme Court on Monday slammed Agra’s district forest department for filing affidavits with false information about the number of trees planted in the eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone.

On Monday, a two-member committee presented its report to the apex court, pointing out how the state government had claimed planting 15,000 trees but on physical verification the information was found to be incorrect.

The Supreme Court had directed the Uttar Pradesh government to plant 2.58 lakh trees in stages to make up for the loss of green cover due to various developmental projects.

A bench of Justices T.S. Thakur and C. Nagappan noted: “We had some kind of hunch and our hunch has been proven correct. Money is being eaten away and no plantation is being done. It has become a fertile ground for corruption. You are not following our order on forestation.”

The bench was clearly unhappy with the casual manner in which documents had been filed with wrong information. It found a huge gap between the target and the actual number of trees planted.

The Taj Trapezium Zone spread over 10,040 sq km, is an eco-sensitive area with more than 40 ASI protected monuments including three world heritage sites.

The apex court has been monitoring the follow-up action on the directives flowing from the PIL filed by eco-lawyer M.C. Mehta way back in 1984.

Agra district forest officer Lalit Verma, who had filed the wrong affidavits in the apex court, was suspended by the state government some months ago.

Thousands of trees have been felled in the Taj Trapezium Zone for road building in past few years, but trees have not been planted as was the commitment given in the Supreme Court while seeking permission.

Thousands of trees were felled for the Yamuna Expressway. Presently thousands of trees have been chopped off for widening the Delhi-Agra national highway.

The work is in progress, but we have never been given the information where compensatory plantation work has been done, said eco-activist Shravan Kumar Singh.

“Now the state government has begun work on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway by chopping trees and cleaning up the green cover. Environmental Assessment Impact hearings have not been held and there is no idea where new green patches would be developed to compensate for the loss of trees,” said Surendra Sharma, a heritage activist in Agra.

“In Vrindavan and Goverdhan thousands of trees have disappeared making way for new cement structures. The mythologically important forests of Braj have turned grey and brown with high rise buildings,” said activist Pavan Gautam of Mathura.

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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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