Bhawani NegiShimla, May 12 -- A legal battle over a centuries-old banyan tree in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra has taken a fresh turn, with the state government telling the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that the controversial construction around the tree was meant to save it, not damage it.
In its reply filed before the NGT, the Himachal Pradesh government and local authorities said the construction of a small cemented platform, locally called a "Tiyala", around the banyan tree in Sidhpurghar village of Kangra district was undertaken purely as a "protective and preventive measure."An application had been filed by Paramjeet Mankotia, who alleged that construction activity near the tree violated environmental norms and endangered the old banyan ...