Archive · 7 Oct 2026
NGT Seeks Bhopal Report on Sapling Survival and Plantation Funds
A tribunal that deals with environmental issues wants to know what happened to 80,000 saplings planted in Bhopal.
It asked officials to report how much money was spent and how many saplings survived.
The report must include photographs showing where the trees were planted.
Officials also need to explain what happened to saplings that died because they were not watered or cared for.
The tribunal questioned why planting did not happen during the 2026 monsoon, even though funds had been deposited in 2025.
The Forest Department has four weeks to send a detailed report.
Other authorities also have deadlines to provide their replies.
The National Green Tribunal sought spending and survival data for 80,000 saplings planted in Bhopal.
The requested report covers 70,000 saplings in Huzur Tehsil and 10,000 along roads and dividers.
The tribunal asked authorities to account for saplings that withered over five years because of inadequate watering or maintenance.
The Forest Department must provide a detailed final report within four weeks, including verification of funds deposited instead of tree felling.
The Bhopal Municipal Corporation must reply before the next hearing, while the pollution control board has 10 working days to file its status report.
- Who
- The National Green Tribunal; the Forest Department, Bhopal Municipal Corporation, and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board were directed to submit information.
- What
- The tribunal sought fund-spending details, survival data, and a report on 80,000 planted saplings.
- When
- The tribunal's order was dated October 6, 2026; the report deadlines include 10 working days and four weeks.
- Where
- Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, including Huzur Tehsil and roadsides and road dividers.
- Why
- The tribunal sought accountability for plantation funds and saplings that may have withered due to lack of watering or maintenance.
Tribunal’s concerns
Authorities’ responses
Plantation work and accountability
Tribunal’s concerns
The tribunal expressed dissatisfaction with the authorities’ handling of plantations and questioned why planting was not done during the 2026 monsoon using funds deposited in 2025.
Authorities’ responses
The article does not report a response from the Forest Department, Bhopal Municipal Corporation, or other authorities to the tribunal’s concerns.
- Saplings under review
- 80,000
- Huzur Tehsil plantings
- 70,000 saplings
- Roadside and divider plantings
- 10,000 saplings
- Forest Department report deadline
- Four weeks
- MPPCB status report deadline
- 10 working days
- Plantation period under review
- The past five years
- Petitioner
- Nitin Saxena