The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal on Monday stayed the cutting of trees in 13.93 hectares of the Yettinahole drinking water project area till further order.
The project area is located in Sakleshpur taluk, Hassan district.
The bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar, which took up the matter for hearing, asked the Karnataka government to file its reply and posted the next hearing on Friday.
Earlier, the Ministry of Environment and Forests had permitted cutting of 4,900 trees in the project area. However, petitioner K N Somshekar filed an application before the tribunal seeking a stay on the forests ministry order, saying the permission was not granted as per the norms.
Though the Karnataka government said it had the required permission to cut the trees, the NGT asked it to file its reply by Friday.
Published 07 November 2016, 20:11 IST