Latest news with #Wildlife(Protection)Act
New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
SC agrees to hear plea against proposed constructions in Satkosia Tiger Reserve
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a plea raising concerns over the alleged proposed constructions inside the Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and Joymalya Bagchi was urged by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal to hear the plea. The bench said it would hear the matter next week. Bansal raised concerns over reported permission granted by the local administration for eco-tourism related constructions within the protected area. "The district collector has issued such permissions for construction of an eco-tourism spot. How can this be permitted?" he said. "I am just fighting for forests," Bansal added. The Satkosia Tiger Reserve, spread across the districts of Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh in Odisha, is a crucial habitat for tigers, elephants, and several endangered species. The plea sought quashing of provisional no objection certificates (NOC) issued by district collectors of Angul, Nayagarh, Boudh and Cuttack for development works inside and around the Satkosia Tiger Reserve. The petitioner argued it was without jurisdiction and in violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the plea said, in April 2018 directed all states for mandatory delineation of eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) around tiger reserves. The plea said these directions clearly stipulated where a protected area formed part of the buffer, a minimum one kilometer ESZ must be demarcated around it. "There are multiple large-scale and systemic issues affecting the ecological and legal integrity of Satkosia Tiger Reserve, which require independent attention and urgent consideration of this court," it said. In line with the NTCA's April 2018 direction, the petitioner said, the Odisha government recently submitted a draft proposal for declaration of ESZ around Satkosia Tiger Reserve to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for final notification. "However, the said draft, if approved in its current form, will seriously compromise the ecological integrity and conservation dignity of the tiger reserve," it alleged. The proposed tourism-centric development activities in and around the tiger reserve, including the construction of high-impact infrastructure and grant of arbitrary NOCs, were said to be contrary to the precautionary principle and violate the statutory framework under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. "The zero-kilometre ESZ boundary proposed in parts of Satkosia Tiger Reserve violates NTCA's 2018 directive, which mandates a minimum 1 km buffer from core tiger habitat wherever the buffer is absent or disjunct," the plea added. It claimed the issuance of no objection certificates by district collectors and non-forest authorities for tourism infrastructure within and around a notified tiger reserve constituted an unlawful usurpation of statutory powers reserved for designated authorities under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and violates the binding directives of the apex court. The plea alleged the actions of state government and its agencies exhibited a deliberate pattern of undermining central environmental regulations through procedural shortcuts and executive overreach, including attempts to modify ESZ notifications to dilute their protective scope for commercial tourism purposes. It also sought a direction to the state to withdraw the draft ESZ proposal relating to Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
News18
6 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
SC agrees to hear plea against proposed constructions in Satkosia Tiger Reserve
Agency: PTI Last Updated: New Delhi, Jul 23 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a plea raising concerns over the alleged proposed constructions inside the Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and Joymalya Bagchi was urged by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal to hear the plea. The bench said it would hear the matter next week. Bansal raised concerns over reported permission granted by the local administration for eco-tourism related constructions within the protected area. 'The district collector has issued such permissions for construction of an eco-tourism spot. How can this be permitted?" Bansal said. 'I am just fighting for forests," he added. The Satkosia Tiger Reserve, spread across the districts of Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh in Odisha, is a crucial habitat for tigers, elephants, and several endangered species. The plea sought quashing of provisional no objection certificates (NOC) issued by district collectors of Angul, Nayagarh, Boudh and Cuttack for development works inside and around the Satkosia Tiger Reserve. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the plea said, in April 2018 directed all states for mandatory delineation of eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) around tiger reserves. The plea said these directions clearly stipulated where a protected area formed part of the buffer, a minimum one kilometer ESZ must be demarcated around it. 'There are multiple large-scale and systemic issues affecting the ecological and legal integrity of Satkosia Tiger Reserve, which require independent attention and urgent consideration of this court," it said. In line with the NTCA's April 2018 direction, the petitioner said, the Odisha government recently submitted a draft proposal for declaration of ESZ around Satkosia Tiger Reserve to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for final notification. 'However, the said draft, if approved in its current form, will seriously compromise the ecological integrity and conservation dignity of the tiger reserve," it alleged. The proposed tourism-centric development activities in and around the tiger reserve, including the construction of high-impact infrastructure and grant of arbitrary NOCs, were said to be contrary to the precautionary principle and violate the statutory framework under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. 'The zero-kilometre ESZ boundary proposed in parts of Satkosia Tiger Reserve violates NTCA's 2018 directive, which mandates a minimum 1 km buffer from core tiger habitat wherever the buffer is absent or disjunct," the plea added. It claimed the issuance of no objection certificates by district collectors and non-forest authorities for tourism infrastructure within and around a notified tiger reserve constituted an unlawful usurpation of statutory powers reserved for designated authorities under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and violates the binding directives of the apex court. The plea alleged the actions of state government and its agencies exhibited a deliberate pattern of undermining central environmental regulations through procedural shortcuts and executive overreach, including attempts to modify ESZ notifications to dilute their protective scope for commercial tourism purposes. It also sought a direction to the state to withdraw the draft ESZ proposal relating to Satkosia Tiger Reserve. PTI SJK ABA ABA AMK AMK view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 13:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Jain math moves SC against high court order on elephant
Kolhapur: The Jain math in Nandani (Kolhapur) has appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn a Bombay high court ruling that ordered their 36-year-old elephant, Mahadevi, to be moved to the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust in Gujarat's Jamnagar. The high court had prioritized Mahadevi's welfare over religious customs. "In the given circumstances of conflict between the rights of an elephant and the rights of petitioner (math) to use the elephant in the discharge of its religious activities, priority must be given to the elephant's welfare," the court order said. PETA India had raised concerns about Mahadevi's well-being, citing her use in crowded events, control with weapons, and the placement of a heavy howdah despite her foot rot and arthritis. She was also reportedly transported to Telangana twice without the required permits under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. A high-powered committee formed by the court to investigate the matter examined the elephant in June and Nov 2024 and submitted a report in favour of the rehabilitation of the elephant. The Bombay high court upheld the high-powered committee's report in their ruling. Nearly 743 Jain temples from Maharashtra and Karnataka are associated with this math. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Storage running out on your Mac? Space Lens will show you why MacPaw Read More Undo Sagar Sambhushete, manager of the math, said, "The math has existed for the last 1,300 years and has a long tradition of owning elephants. The math took possession of this elephant 33 years ago after taking necessary permissions. We have our faith and emotions attached to the elephant." The math also requested MLC Satej Patil to put forward this issue in the Legislative Council. MLC Satej Patil, speaking regarding the elephant, said, "Instead of hurting the religious sentiments of the people, the govt should trap the elephants causing menace to farmers in Ajara, Gadhinglaj, and Chandgad tehsil and shift them to Vantara. The govt should prepare guidelines on how to take care of elephants in Jain temples. Will the govt break a 200-year-old tradition by shifting the elephant?"
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Nilgai shot dead, severed body parts found
Bhopal: A nilgai was shot dead and its body was severed into two pieces by poachers in Lateri forest area of Vidisha district. The incident came to light late on Sunday night when forest officials received information about suspicious activity inside the forest. Forest officials said at around 12:15 am, the forest department received a tip-off about unknown persons moving through the forest using searchlights. Two teams led by rangers launched a joint operation. As the teams reached the spot, movement was detected. The teams tried to intercept the suspects. But, they managed to flee, abandoning their vehicle in the forest. A jeep and front half of a nilgai's carcass were recovered from the spot. The next morning, the rear portion of the carcass was found away from the spot, officials said. A case was registered under the Wildlife (Protection) Act against four persons.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Heron deaths: Contractor, 3 members of housing society booked
Thane: A tree-trimming contractor, Arfad Varekar, and three members of the Rutu Enclave Cooperative Housing Society have been booked for allegedly excessively pruning trees in the society's premises on Ghodbunder Road, after which 45 herons died and 27 were rescued. Thane, India - July -17, 2025: While trimming trees in the compound of a society on Ghodbunder Road, in Thane, the nest of the herons on the trees were destroyed, and about 25 herons died, and 15 were rescued through the Forest Department and Wildlife Welfare Association (NGO) Further investigation is being conducted by the Forest Department .,in Thane,in Mumbai, India, on, Thursday, July -17, 2025. ( Praful Gangurde / HT Photo ) (praful Gangurde) The incident occurred on Thursday when the housing society, after acquiring permissions from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), started trimming 10 trees in the society compound. The local activists and NGOs alerted the authorities after spotting dead and injured birds in the society's premises and claimed that excessive pruning was carried out during peak nesting season, leading to the destruction of birds' nests on the trees. Forest officials have confirmed that a significant portion of the tree canopy was removed, which is beyond the permissible limit as per the municipal guidelines. The case was registered against contractor Arfad Varekar and three society committee members, Chintamani Chavhan, Suresh Vishal, and Salivhandra Tansale, under relevant sections of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The police said that the statements of the society members were recorded and that the contractor wasn't available due to a medical emergency. The forest department and the TMC are conducting parallel inquiries into the matter to analyse the extent of violations and individual accountability. A wildlife expert said, 'Ideally, before granting permission for tree trimming, a spot inspection must be conducted by the garden department officer of the civic body. In this case, the officials responsible for issuing the approval should also be held accountable.'
