Latest news with #SanrakshanEvamSamvardhan)Adhiniyam
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Time of India
NGT notice over ‘illegal' Sundargarh forest land transfer
1 2 Cuttack: National Green Tribunal (NGT), East Zone Bench in Kolkata, on Wednesday issued notices to the state govt, the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC), and the Orissa Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) over the alleged illegal transfer of 6.36 acres of forest land to private companies in Sundargarh district. The order came after a petition was filed by three local residents — Pradeep Kumar Das, Ramakanta Biswal, and Patel Lakra — who claimed that IDCO provisionally allotted 'gramya jungle' (village forest land) in Kalokudar to two private companies for establishing steel, iron, and ferro-alloys units. The land falls under a Schedule V area and reportedly has dense forest cover. Scheduled areas have special provisions for the administration and protection of tribal communities. Advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy represented the petitioners. The bench, comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar (Judicial Member) and Dr Arun Kumar Verma (Expert Member), observed that the matter "requires consideration" and directed all respondents to file their counter-affidavits within four weeks. The next hearing is scheduled for Aug 21, 2025. The petitioners alleged that the transfer and construction activity were carried out without the mandatory prior approval of the central govt under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, and also violated the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 2023. The petition also mentioned a letter dated Feb 24 written by one of the petitioners to the divisional forest officer (DFO), Rourkela, seeking cancellation of the land allotment. Acting on it, the DFO-cum-wildlife warden issued a direction on Mar 6 asking the companies to stop all construction activities. However, the petitioners claim that work continued in violation of forest laws. Among the state authorities issued notices to file replies within four weeks are the additional chief secretary, forest and environment department, managing director of IDCO, Sundargarh collector, Lathikata tehsildar and divisional forest officer-cum-wildlife warden (Rourkela forest division). The tribunal also issued notices to the two private companies.
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Centre asks Assam govt to take action against officer over illegal forest land use
Guwahati: The union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) has directed the Assam government to take action against a senior state official for allegedly allowing illegal construction inside a reserve forest in Hailakandi district, in violation of provisions under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. Yadava had approved the construction of the second commando battalion of Assam Police in October 2021. (HT File Photo) MK Yadava, who was the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), head of forest force (HoFF), and special chief secretary (forests) of the Assam government, was accused of permitting the diversion of 11.5 hectares of land inside Damchera Inner Line Reserve Forest in Assam for the construction of a commando battalion, without obtaining prior permission from the Centre. Yadava had approved the construction of the second commando battalion of Assam Police in October 2021. The Shillong-based regional office of MoEFCC issued a letter to the Assam government on May 25 stating, 'MK Yadava, the then PCCF and HoFF, Assam, had no authority to grant permission for clearing the forest land for non-forest activity without the prior permission of central government.' Directing the state government to submit a report on action taken regarding litigations pending before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the letter further stated, 'Government of Assam is hereby authorised to take legal action against the offender and furnish an action taken a period of 45 days.' The letter, written by Deputy Inspector General of Forests (Central) Pee Lee Ete, noted that the diversion was allowed without prior approval, and 'for conservation and protection of not legally tenable.' HT has seen a copy of the letter. The letter explained that while the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam permits the construction of bare minimum operational buildings for forest management—such as check gates, single-lane untarred roads, and huts for guards—without prior permission from the Centre, approval is required for large structures that could impact conservation. A MoEFCC team that inspected the area found that construction was ongoing in full swing, with permanent structures covering a plinth area of around 30,000 square metres being built over 11.5 hectares, the letter said. Officials from the Assam Police Housing Corporation informed the team that around 50% of construction for some of the proposed battalion buildings had already been completed. 'The activities amount to gross violation of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam and rules, guidelines and notifications framed thereunder, and it is also against the legal principles framed by the courts and tribunals,' the letter read. Also Read: NGT directs Assam govt to clear 4200 ha of encroached forest land in Kamrup (M) It added that the submissions given by Yadava and the Assam government in response to the show-cause notices issued by MoEFCC were 'not satisfactory' and 'failed to prove not guilty.' The Assam government has not taken any action against Yadava so far, and the 45-day deadline given by MoEFCC to take action and submit a report will expire on July 13, an official requesting anonymity said. The letter also noted that the offence is punishable under Sections 3A and 3B of the Van (Sanrakshan and Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, read with Rule 15(3) of the Van (Sanrakshan and Samvardhan) Rules, 2023. Violation of the Act can result in imprisonment for a maximum period of 15 days.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
NGT asks govt to get forest nod or demolish Deomali structures
1 2 Koraput: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the state govt to obtain forest clearance within three months or remove all structures built on Deomali hill under the eco-tourism project. The order, issued on Friday, mandates the state to seek approval from the Centre under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. If the govt fails to get the nod, it must dismantle the constructions and restore the land to its original state, the NGT said. Deomali hill, located in Koraput's Pottangi block, has rich biodiversity. NGT's directive comes in response to a 2023 petition by the Wildlife Society of Odisha , which raised concerns over unauthorised constructions threatening the local ecosystem. The forest department has built 10 cottages, a dining hall, dormitories and other facilities on 5.93 hectares of forest land using cement fibre board. NGT also directed the govt to maintain a pine plantation undertaken over 1.5–2 hectares and make efforts to expand it. Strictly prohibiting diversion of forest land for other purposes, NGT's east zone bench in Kolkata cited the 1980 Act and Forest Rights Act, 2006. "In any case, no diversion of the land in question shall be made for non-forestry purposes and the respondents shall ensure strict compliance of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 read with the Forest Rights Act, 2006," the bench stated in its order. Divisional forest officer (Koraput), Bhaskar Rao, said, "We are examining the NGT order which we received on Friday. After consultation with authorities and legal experts, necessary action will be taken."
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
National Green Tribunal halts ecotourism at Odisha's highest peak Deomali
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has halted ecotourism at Deomali, the highest peak in Odisha in the Koraput district, and ordered the state to secure clearance under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, for structures built for it within three months or demolish them and restore the land. NGT's eastern zonal bench of Justice B Amit Sthalekar and Arun Kumar Verma said 10 cottages for tourists with dining halls and dormitories, and other constructions lacked permissions. 'If the required approval is not obtained within the stipulated time, erected shall be removed, and the area shall be restored to its original form. In any case, no diversion of the land in question shall be made for non-forestry purposes, and the respondents [state and the Union governments] shall ensure strict compliance with the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, read with the Forest Rights Act, 2006,' the bench said. The bench directed maintenance of a 1.5-2 hectare pine plantation. Deomali, a mountaintop tableland in the Eastern Ghats range, is 5,486 feet above sea level. The Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO), a non-profit organisation, moved the NGT against the constructions, arguing they flouted sustainable development principles. Lawyer Sankar Prasad Pani, who represented WSO, said any non-forest activity in the area requires prior approval under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. 'If the land is not a notified forest and is devoid of trees and vegetation, as is the stand taken, the DFO [divisional forest officer] would have no role in issuing a tender notice for civil works,' said Pani. The Koraput DFO submitted that the ecotourism project site does not fall within any notified forest block or recorded forest land as per the government records, and it is not identified as deemed forest. The NGT was unsatisfied with the submission and said the question arises as to why village level meetings were held for the formation of Van Surakhya Samiti if the state's stand is to be accepted. 'If the land in question was revenue land, the procedure as prescribed under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, would have had no application or necessity,' the bench said. The Deomali project is part of the Union government's Swadesh Darshan Scheme for infrastructure development to boost tourism. The tourism department has separately sanctioned ₹16 crore for the integrated development of the area. There is also a proposal for an ecotourism complex at an estimated cost of about ₹4.5 crore.
Hindustan Times
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
State govt gives nod for diversion of reserve forest land for road projects in Pune
The Maharashtra state government has granted final approval for the diversion of reserved forest land in four tehsils of Pune district--Indapur, Daund, Shirur and Purandar. A Government Resolution (GR) formalising the decision was issued on May 9. The diversion was mainly proposed for district and state highway construction or extension purposes. The conditions for the approval included compensatory afforestation, alternative land transfer to the forest department, and also obtaining necessary wildlife permission from the competent authority if required, said officials. Deepak Pawar, assistant conservator of forest, Pune division, said,'I have not received the order copy yet. We will share more details after checking the details mentioned in the order copy.' As per the GR, the Maharashtra government in 2023 received proposals from the additional principal chief conservator of forests and nodal officer, Maharashtra state. These proposals included diversion of reserve forest land for road repair, widening and even construction work. The government has provided an in-principle approval earlier, and after careful consideration of the proposal and compliance report, the state government has issued the final approval for diversion of reserve forest land under Section 2 of Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. The GR, along with 29 conditions, also mentioned that the legal status of the land will remain unchanged, and forest land will be handed over only after the required non-forest land for the project is handed over to the user agency. The other significant conditions include: compensatory afforestation shall be taken up by the forest department at the cost of the user agency. The forest department is also directed to charge the Net Present Value (NPV) for the 0.09 ha. Forest land is to be diverted under this proposal from the user agency. The conditions also mentioned that the user agency shall obtain wildlife clearance, if required.
