SC panel's inspection reveals breach of forest norms in Mohali villages
2
3
Mohali: Acting on a series of complaints regarding violations of forest and wildlife protection laws in Mohali's ecologically sensitive villages — Karoran, Siswan, and Masol, the central empowered committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court, conducted a field inspection on Monday and found several breaches of forest norms.
The inspection team was accompanied by Dharam Sharma, principal chief conservator of forests, Punjab, and Divya P, sub-divisional magistrate of Kharar. The site visit included sensitive locations such as Bans Bagh (Bamboo Farm) in Siswan and Forest Hill Resort in Karoran village.
According to sources, the committee observed forest law violations at various sites and interacted with local complainants, who expressed their concerns in detail.
The panel has now summoned the complainants for a formal hearing as it prepares a comprehensive report to be submitted to the ministry of environment, forest and climate change.
The inspected villages fall under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900, and are also protected by the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and directives from the Supreme Court of India. Notably, the apex court had explicitly prohibited any commercial activity in these areas without prior clearance from the Government of India—particularly during the delisting process of specific lands.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Tukarkan Bitcoin dan Ethereum - Tanpa Dompet Diperlukan!
IC Markets
MULAI SEKARANG
Undo
Despite these restrictions, reports indicate that large-scale violations, especially illegal hill-cutting, have persisted for years. Environmental activists and local residents allege rampant encroachments, leading to the degradation of the biodiversity-rich Shivalik Hills. They have also accused the forest department, district administration, Gmada, and panchayati raj institutions of negligence and inaction, raising concerns over the influence of an alleged land mafia operating in the region.
The central empowered committee, established in 2002 and restructured in 2008, functions as an advisory and monitoring body in forest and wildlife cases. It plays a key role in identifying violations, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations, and recommending enforcement actions.
The committee is expected to undertake a detailed inspection in the coming weeks to assess the extent of ecological damage, effectiveness of governmental interventions, and compliance with court orders.
Its findings could lead to stringent action against violators and have wider implications for conservation efforts across the state.
In a statement, Forest Hill Resort director Devinder Sandhu said, "Forest Hill Resort welcomed the members of Central Empowered Committee (CEC) for visiting the resort today. The management of resort showcased the green & eco-friendly environment at the resort being maintained by them and also provided all details of various approvals and permissions along with favourable orders of Punjab & Haryana high court and Supreme Court of India operating in their favour.
This project also has an approval under 2018 Eco Tourism Policy of Govt. of India granted to us. Besides all other statutory approvals from various departments like Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), excise department Punjab, Punjab Heritage & Tourism Promotion Board etc have been obtained.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Ghislaine Maxwell didn't hang herself next week': Chilling predictions on social media after she says she will disclose 'Epstein client list'
Ghislaine Maxwell is willing to disclose what she knows about Epstein's client list. After 63-year-old Ghislaine Maxwell expressed her willingness to speak out about Jeffrey Epstein's secrets, his client list, as being the only living person of importance associated with the case, social media users predicted that now it might be her turn to 'commit suicide'. Maxwell has been in prison serving 20 years on child sex trafficking charges. Now, as the government has closed the investigation, DailyMail reported that Maxwell would be happy to sit before Congress and tell her story. The report said that Maxwell was never asked to testify before Congress, though she is the only key person associated with the major scandal, and was convicted in 2022, three years after Epstein committed suicide in his prison cell. Epstein's ghost, however, did not leave the US government as the Donald Trump administration has come under fire for abruptly closing the case, announcing that there was no foul play in Epstein's death and he indeed committed suicide. The DOJ and the FBI also closed any avenue of further leak of any name in the case as they said Epstein did not have any client list. Epstein thus remains a convicted sex offender who used to traffic underage girls with the help of Maxwell, but to unknown people. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Chilling predictions on social media The suicide of Virginia Giuffre, an accuser of the Epstein case who claimed that she was sexually abused by Prince Andrew when she was a minor, made everything about the Epstein case suspicious. In an old post in 2019, Giuffre wrote she was not suicidal. Yet, she committed suicide in 2025. "According to sources speaking to the Daily Mail, Ghislaine Maxwell is willing to reveal everything she knows about Jeffrey Epstein to Congress. Note: Ghislaine Maxwell did NOT commit suicide," one post read. "Ghislaine Maxwell is willing to reveal the full Epstein List in front of Congress. So how long before she tragically gets suicided in her sleep by a bullet to the back of her head?" another wrote. Now that Maxwell wants to speak about the case, she, too, may meet the same fate, chilling conspiracy theorists note on social media. Who is Ghislaine Maxwell? Ghislaine Maxwell is a British socialite and former associate of American financier convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Born in France and raised in the UK, she is the daughter of the late British media mogul Robert Maxwell. After her father's death in 1991 under mysterious circumstances, Maxwell moved to the United States and became part of New York's elite social circles. She became closely connected with Epstein in the 1990s and was often described as his confidante, girlfriend, and later, alleged accomplice. There are speculations that her father worked for Mossad. Maxwell was accused of helping Epstein recruit, groom, and abuse underage girls, with several victims testifying that she played an active role in facilitating the abuse. In July 2020, she was arrested by the FBI and charged with multiple federal crimes, including sex trafficking of minors and perjury. She pleaded not guilty but was convicted in December 2021 on five counts, including sex trafficking of a minor. In June 2022, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
New Indian Express
42 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Influential Sunni cleric Kanthapuram cleric steps in to save Indian nurse facing execution in Yemen
KOZHIKODE: Influential Sunni Muslim cleric Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar has stepped in and is making "all possible efforts" to save an Indian nurse facing execution in Yemen, as her scheduled execution draws near, informed sources said here on Monday. They said the 94-year-old Musliyar, who is officially known as Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad and holds the title of Grand Mufti of India, has held talks with religious authorities in Yemen, who are in contact with the family of Talal Abdo Mahdi, the Yemeni national she allegedly killed in 2017. Nimisha Priya, the nurse from Kerala, is facing execution on July 16 for the murder of Mahdi, her Yemeni business partner. Sources said negotiations regarding blood money have taken place, and the details were conveyed to the concerned parties in Kerala. However, there has been no official communication regarding the status of the negotiations. Under Shariah law, as applied in Yemen, blood money is a legally recognised financial compensation paid to the family of a person who has been killed. It is a legally sanctioned alternative to capital punishment in Islamic jurisprudence. Meanwhile, sources said that an office has been opened at Musliyar's headquarters here to facilitate the negotiations. Nimisha Priya, hailing from Palakkad district, was sentenced to death in 2020, and her final appeal was rejected in 2023. She is currently imprisoned in a jail in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. Earlier in the day, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that the government could do "nothing much" in the case of the nurse facing execution on July 16. Attorney General R Venkataramani informed a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that the government was doing "utmost possible". "The Government of India is trying its best," Venkataramani said, "and has also engaged with some sheikhs who are very influential people there.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Influential cleric steps in to save Indian nurse Nimisha Priya facing execution in Yemen
A prominent Sunni Muslim cleric, Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar, is intervening to save Nimisha Priya. She is an Indian nurse facing execution in Yemen. Musliyar is in contact with Yemeni religious authorities. They are negotiating with the victim's family. Nimisha Priya was sentenced to death for the murder of a Yemeni national. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Influential Sunni Muslim cleric Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar has stepped in and is making "all possible efforts" to save an Indian nurse facing execution in Yemen, as her scheduled execution draws near, informed sources said here on said the 94-year-old Musliyar, who is officially known as Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad and holds the title of Grand Mufti of India, has held talks with religious authorities in Yemen, who are in contact with the family of Talal Abdo Mahdi, the Yemeni national she allegedly killed in 2017. Nimisha Priya , the nurse from Kerala, is facing execution on July 16 for the murder of Mahdi, her Yemeni business said negotiations regarding blood money have taken place, and the details were conveyed to the concerned parties in Kerala. However, there has been no official communication regarding the status of the Shariah law, as applied in Yemen, blood money is a legally recognised financial compensation paid to the family of a person who has been killed. It is a legally sanctioned alternative to capital punishment in Islamic sources said that an office has been opened at Musliyar's headquarters here to facilitate the Priya, hailing from Palakkad district, was sentenced to death in 2020, and her final appeal was rejected in is currently imprisoned in a jail in Sanaa, the capital of in the day, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that the government could do "nothing much" in the case of the nurse facing execution on July General R Venkataramani informed a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that the government was doing "utmost possible"."The Government of India is trying its best," Venkataramani said, "and has also engaged with some sheikhs who are very influential people there."
