NGT notes Assam's affidavit, says interference not required in Commando Battalion HQ construction
New Delhi, The National Green Tribunal has said that its interference is not required in a matter regarding the alleged illegal permission granted for construction of the second Assam Commando Battalion unit headquarters inside the inner line of reserved forest in Assam's Hailakandi district.
The tribunal disposed of the matter, saying it had received an affidavit from the state government that the project's construction would be confined to less than 20,000 square metres or around 4.94 acres and according to rules, and Environmental Clearance was not required for such construction.
The green body had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report, which alleged that top forest officials of the Assam government had illegally diverted 44 acres of protected forest land for a Commando Battalion Headquarters a project which was being executed by the Assam Police Housing Corporation.
"In the affidavit dated April 25, 2025, the state of Assam has taken the stand that it will confine its construction to 20,000 sqm . For such a construction, EC is not required," said a bench of NGT chairperson Prakash Shrivastava in an order dated May 30.
The bench also comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel noted the state government's affidavit, according to which, "The state government is ready to dismantle all the constructions beyond 20,000 sqm and shall not undertake any further construction beyond the said limit, for which no EC is required as per the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification of 2006."
The tribunal further noted the affidavit, saying that the state government would apply afresh for an additional 8,233 sqm, if required, and that it would strictly abide by all laws, and unless all clearances were obtained under the existing laws, it would not start any further construction.
"In the above circumstances, we are of the view that no interference in this original application is required. It is accordingly disposed of," the tribunal said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kerala HC allows Transgender couple to use gender-neutral ‘parent' in birth certificate
Kerala HC KOCHI: Kerala high court has allowed India's first pair of biological transgender parents to be identified in their child's birth certificate by the gender-neutral term 'parent' instead of the usual distinction between 'father' and 'mother'. Justice A A Ziyad Rahman passed the order on a petition filed by Zahhad and Ziya Paval, both natives of Kozhikode. Zahhad, who identifies himself as a trans man, gave birth to the couple's child in Feb 2023. The birth certificate, issued by Kozhikode Municipal Corporation under the Kerala Registration of Birth and Death Rules, 1999, mentions Ziya as the father and Zahhad as the mother. The pair's request to the corporation to do way with parental gender distinction in the document was turned down, prompting them to move court. Zahhad argued that a trans man being identified as the child's mother could cause complications, including while seeking admission to a school and applying for a passport or Aadhaar. The bench directed the Kozhikode corporation authorities to modify the birth certificate within two months by removing the columns for father and mother and incorporating the names of the petitioners as 'parents' without referring to their respective gender.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Banke Bihari temple priests threaten to 'relocate Thakurji' over corridor redevelopment plan
AGRA: Priests of the centuries-old Banke Bihari temple in Mathura, who are opposed to the proposed 'redevelopment plan for the Banke Bihari corridor in Vrindavan', alleged on Monday, that if govt does not heed their concerns, they will relocate the Banke Bihari deity to another site. The latest development came after a series of protests by the Goswami community members and locals against the proposed corridor and the creation of the Banke Bihari temple trust by the state govt. Ghanshyam Goswami, 60, a member of the management committee, said, "The problem is that the govt wants to turn this place of faith into a picnic spot. The Banke Bihari Trust was formed without consulting us. We're open to suggestions for improving the management of the temple but if this situation continues, we'll not hesitate to move Thakurji out of the temple. This temple was founded by our forefathers, and the customs and traditions here date back to the 19th century. " The Supreme Court, in its May 15 verdict, permitted the UP govt to continue with the 'Rs 500 cr redevelopment plan for the Shri Banke Bihari temple corridor in Vrindavan'. The project, approved by the bench of Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice SC Sharma, enables the state to utilise temple funds to acquire about 5 acres of land near the shrine. Calls for redevelopment intensified after a stampede-like incident took place during the Janmashtami celebrations in 2022, which resulted in two fatalities. In Sept 2023, Allahabad high court directed the state govt to implement a corridor plan to manage crowds and ensure safety. Although the state said it engaged with all stakeholders, Shebaits and local residents have claimed they were excluded from discussions. On Monday, Agra's divisional commissioner Shailendra Kumar Singh, Mathura DM Chandra Prakesh Singh, Agra range DIG Shailesh Kumar Pandey and additional officials held a meeting with the stakeholders to seek a resolution. Shailendra Kumar Singh said, "The proposed corridor has been cleared by the SC. The locals have raised some issues, and we have reached out to them. In the issues related to the temple, we ensured that no change will be there to the customs and traditions of the temple. Shopkeepers had doubts related to compensation, and we cleared them. The streets in and around the temple are narrow and unsuitable for the influx of people who visit the temple daily, so this corridor will be beneficial for all the stakeholders. "
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Court issues norms for pregnancy termination in sexual assault cases
New Delhi: Delhi High Court recently issued guidelines for handling sexual assault victims seeking medical termination of pregnancy (MTP), emphasising that identity documents should not be required during medical examinations when the victim is brought by the investigating officer (IO) after FIR registration. A single-judge bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed, "Where the survivor of sexual assault (major or minor) is accompanied by the IO or produced pursuant to the direction of a Court or Child Welfare Committee (CWC), identification proof shall not be insisted upon by the hospital or doctor for conducting ultrasound or necessary diagnostic procedures. Identification by the IO will suffice." The court clarified that the IO is responsible for identifying the victim and ensuring that relevant documents and case files accompany her before the medical board. These guidelines were issued on May 29, in response to a plea seeking permission for the MTP of a 17-year-old rape survivor taken to AIIMS for examination and termination on May 25. The hospital initially refused to conduct an ultrasound because she lacked an identity card, despite police accompaniment. After a 13-day delay, an ultrasound revealed she was over 25 weeks pregnant. The medical board did not examine her immediately, citing the need for a court order since the pregnancy exceeded the statutory limit. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The bench directed govt hospitals to designate nodal officers to coordinate medico-legal aspects of such cases and provided clarity for handling MTP requests from minor sexual assault survivors. The court mandated that comprehensive medical examinations be conducted without delay for pregnant rape survivors. For pregnancies exceeding 24 weeks, a medical board must be constituted immediately without awaiting specific court orders. The bench further ruled that foetuses from MTP procedures on rape victims should be preserved for potential future DNA or forensic analysis. On May 27, on the orders of the court, a medical board examined her and found that she was only 24 weeks pregnant, and there was no need for a court order. The bench, observing that the conduct of AIIMS in this case was troubling, directed the registrar general of the HC to send a copy of the judgment to the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee, Delhi police commissioner, Delhi govt, and the Central Govt to ensure that the guidelines are disseminated to and complied with by all stakeholders.
