The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and other authorities in connection with the widespread felling of palm trees in Bihar, which is allegedly contributing to a rise in lightning-related fatalities.

The Tribunal took suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting the ecological fallout of cutting down palm trees, noting a correlation between the loss of these trees and a spike in deaths caused by lightning. Since 2016, Bihar has reportedly recorded over 2,000 such deaths.

In its order dated June 5, a bench comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi (Judicial Member) and A Senthil Vel (Expert Member) referred to the report which stated that “dozens of towering palm trees are being felled,” and this deforestation has been linked to an increase in lightning incidents, particularly in rural areas.

The report attributed the mass cutting of palm trees to their declining economic value following Bihar’s prohibition policy, which banned toddy tapping. As a result, palm plantations have dwindled by nearly 40 per cent, and new plantations have largely come to a halt.

Citing data from the report, the NGT noted that lightning fatalities occur most frequently between 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm, when people are generally outdoors for work. The worst-affected districts include Aurangabad, Patna, Nalanda, Kaimur, Rohtas, Bhojpur, and Buxar.

Observing that the matter may attract provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, the Tribunal impleaded CPCB, the Bihar State Pollution Control Board, the regional office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Bihar Disaster Management Department as respondents.

“Let notices be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply,” the NGT directed, listing the case for further hearing on August 7 before its Eastern Zonal Bench in Kolkata.