Assam forest land used for camps without approval, action ordered against official
A similar site visit in March 2024 at Innerline Reserved Forest revealed that around 500 workers and multiple heavy vehicles were engaged in construction activity spread across 11.5 hectares. The plinth area of buildings under construction was estimated at 30,000 square metres.The Advisory Committee acknowledged the importance of deploying security forces to protect forests, but reiterated that diversion of forest land requires prior approval from the Central Government, as laid out in Rule 11.8 of the Forest (Conservation) Act and the updated 2023 rules and guidelines.Yadava's justification for the construction - citing forest protection concerns - was deemed unsatisfactory and 'not legally tenable' by the Ministry. Under Rule 15(2) of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023, the Central Government has directed the State Government to initiate prosecution.Divisional Forest Officers have been given 45 days to file complaints and submit action-taken reports, with the Assam Government required to provide monthly updates to the Ministry's Shillong office.The matter is further complicated by a conflict of interest. As Special Chief Secretary, Yadava now holds a position that may influence whether legal proceedings against him are approved - raising questions over institutional accountability.While the National Green Tribunal has closed the Damchera camp case after a post-facto clearance, the Geleky case remains pending before the tribunal's Kolkata bench.- EndsMust Watch
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