# NGT orders Haryana chief secretary to explain tree law delay 2026-08-13T05:46:05+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The National Green Tribunal has directed Haryana's chief secretary to file an affidavit detailing steps taken toward enacting the Haryana Tree Preservation Act, 2026, to regulate tree felling in non-forest areas. The order came during a hearing on alleged large-scale tree cutting in Gurugram between November 2024 and November 2025. According to the forest department's report, 12,587 trees were felled against 389 permissions sought for 17,852 trees. NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava remarked that authorities were not listening to environmental needs and that the conduct was affecting the national capital region. Expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad questioned the state's reliance on individual farmers for compensatory plantations, noting no guarantee that farmers would maintain them after five years. The tribunal also noted Haryana had not fully complied with interim regulatory orders. The matter is listed for October 30. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com Tags: compensatory plantation, Gurugram, Haryana Tree Preservation Act, NGT, tree felling Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/ngt-orders-haryana-chief-secretary-to-explain-tree-law-delay/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/ngt-orders-haryana-chief-secretary-to-explain-tree-law-delay/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.