ORDER

1. After hearing the learned amicus curiae, the learned Attorney General and the other learned counsel, we direct as under :

A. In the State of Uttar Pradesh the following is permitted -

1. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) may, on a case-to-case basis, consider grant of permission to an existing licensed saw mill to relocate itself, provided that the relocated site is not within 10 kms of any existing forest.

2. To alleviate the unintended hardship which may be caused to the ordinary populace in the hill areas who need forest produce for their survival, it is clarified as under :

(a) Nothing contained in the orders passed by this Court would prevent the U.P. Forest Corporation from directly undertaking the exercise of collecting forest produce including fallen wood (but not any felling or cutting of trees or timber) to the extent strictly necessary, and distributing the same ex depot to the people living in the hill areas.

(b) The Forest Corporation may, with the prior permission of the PCCF, remove dead or dry trees for supply in the same manner ex depot to people residing in those areas. The Forest Corporation shall (i) undertake such activity itself without