Latest news with #ForestConservationAct
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Central Empowered Committee to inspect Mohali villages over forest, wildlife violations
Acting on a complaint regarding violation of forest and wildlife laws in villages, such as Karoran, Nada, Masol, and adjoining areas in Mohali district, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court, is scheduled to visit the region on Monday at 9 am. The CEC will assess the extent of damage caused to forest land, wildlife and the local environment. It will also evaluate the timely action taken by government departments, and based on its findings, will recommend appropriate measures. The said villages under scrutiny fall within areas governed by the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900. These areas are also protected under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, and the Supreme Court's orders. Even during the process of delisting certain areas from protected status, the court had explicitly banned any commercial activity without prior approval from the Government of India. Despite these restrictions, large-scale violations—particularly illegal hill-cutting—have allegedly continued unabated for several years. These activities have led to the degradation of ecologically sensitive and biodiversity-rich areas in the Shivalik Hills. Environmentalists and local residents have accused the forest department, district administration and urban agencies like Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), along with panchayati raj institutions, of failing to prevent these encroachments, raising concerns over the alleged influence of the land mafia in the region. The Shivalik forests are known for their ecological significance, and are home to many endangered plant and animal species, several of which are listed as threatened under the (International Union for Conservation of Nature) IUCN Red List. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) was constituted by the Supreme Court of India in 2002 (and reconstituted in 2008) to assist in matters related to forest, wildlife conservation and flag cases of official non-compliance with its orders related to conservation. It reports to the Union environment ministry. The committee came into existence after a landmark Supreme Court judgment, dated December 12, 1996, in a 1995 case. The apex court ruled that the term 'forest' should be interpreted in its dictionary sense, regardless of land ownership. This means any land that is forest in character on the ground must be treated as such and cannot be used for non-forest activities without prior approval from the Government of India, in accordance with the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and other applicable laws.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Protecting Shivalik ecosystem: SC-constituted committee to probe forest law violations in Mohali
1 2 Mohali: The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court , is set to investigate alleged violations of forest and wildlife laws that have recently come to light in the forest areas of Mohali, with a focus on protecting the fragile Shivalik ecosystem. Sources said the CEC will visit Karoran, Nada, Masol, and adjoining villages in Mohali district on Monday. The visit follows a formal complaint highlighting widespread irregularities in forest management and potential breaches of environmental regulations in the region. The sources said the committee will assess the extent of ecological damage, particularly to forest land and wildlife habitats, and evaluate the actions taken by government departments in response to the alleged violations. Based on its findings, the CEC is expected to recommend corrective measures to ensure enforcement of conservation laws. The villages under scrutiny fall within areas protected under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900, and the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. Despite restrictions, reports of illegal hill-cutting and encroachments have allegedly persisted for years, leading to the degradation of ecologically sensitive zones in the Shivalik hills. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Soluções de energia de confiança para Data Centers de IA Siemens Energy Learn More Undo Environmental activists and residents allege that the forest department, district administration, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (Gmada), and panchayati raj institutions failed to curb these violations. Many have pointed to the alleged involvement of an influential land mafia operating with impunity in the region. The Shivalik forests, part of the outer Himalayas, are known for their rich biodiversity and are home to several endangered species listed in the IUCN Red List. The ecological value of this landscape has been extensively documented, including in the publication Biodiversity in Shivaliks by Neelima Jairath of the Punjab State Council for Science & Technology. Adding context to the gravity of the issue, sources recall that a few years ago, when government officials attempted to reclaim encroached land using state machinery, they reportedly became targets of vigilance inquiries, allegedly influenced by those with vested interests in the land deals. The CEC, originally formed in 2002 (and reconstituted in 2008), functions under the SC's directives to monitor violations of forest and wildlife laws and report to the ministry of environment, forest and climate change. The committee traces its origins to a landmark SC judgment delivered on Dec 12, 1996, which broadened the definition of 'forest' to include any land exhibiting forest-like characteristics, irrespective of ownership.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Assam commando battalion camp: ‘No further deliberation, interference needed': NGT disposes of suo motu case
Disposing of a suo motu case regarding the construction of an Assam commando battalion camp on reserve forest land in Hailakandi district, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said in its order that further deliberation is not required without any challenge to the Centre's post facto forest approval to the camp. The tribunal also took on record the Assam government's undertaking that it would dismantle all constructions beyond 20,000 sqm (above which prior environmental clearance is needed), and said, 'In the above circumstances, we are of the view that no interference in this OA (original application) is required. '…We are of the view that at this stage without there being any challenge to the said order further deliberation on this issue is not required. The clearance under Section 2 of the FC (Forest Conservation) Act, 1980, now exists in favour of the Assam Police Housing Corporation Limited,' the NGT noted in its order issued on May 30. Earlier, the Assam government had submitted to its State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) that the camp did not require environmental clearance as its extent was under 20,000 sq m. The SEIAA had taken the view that the project came under the ambit of an 'educational institute'. The Assam government and SEIAA had relied upon an environment ministry notification, granting exemption from prior green nod to buildings and constructions with a built-up area up to 1,50,000 sqm, such as warehouses, industrial sheds, and colleges. This was stayed by the Supreme Court in February this year. Considering the top court's order, the NGT said, '… view of the SEIAA, Assam that the project is exempted as an educational institute in the Minutes of Meeting dated 22.04.2025 need to be re-examined by SEIAA, Assam.' The principal bench comprising NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Sudhir Agarwal, and expert member Vel had taken suo motu cognizance of the battalion camp's construction by diverting 44 hectares of forest land, based on a news report. It had reserved its order in April. One of the key issues considered by the Tribunal was 'whether the approval of the Central Government under Section 2 of the FC Act, 1980, was required for the diversion of the forest land and construction of the camp… and if such a permission has been obtained?' the order said. The NGT order noted that the construction clearly fell within the meaning of 'non-forest' activity and it was not in dispute that the land in question is forest land. It noted that the Assam government sought Centre's approval under the FC Act for non-forestry use of 11.5 hectare of forest land for the camp and a post facto approval was granted in February. However, before the Assam government approached Centre, the Environment Ministry had informed the NGT that the camp's construction was in contravention of the Van Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan Adhiniyam, 2023, (formerly known as Forest Conservation Act, 1980). It said that the construction had begun without prior approval. Later, it had asked the Assam government to stop the construction and directed its regional office in Shillong to initiate action as per law. In May 2024, Assam's top forest official M K Yadava was served a notice by the regional office for alleged violation of the 2023 Adhiniyam. Action against Yadava is still pending.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Eshwar Khandre recommends suspension of IFS officer
Bengaluru: A case has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking permission to denotify HMT forest land worth over Rs 14,000 crore, and action has been recommended against a retired IAS, IFS and two sitting IFS officers, Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar B Khandre said. Speaking to reporters who met him in Bengaluru on Friday, he said that the land in the possession of HMT has not been converted to non-forest purposes. 'Therefore, according to several judgments given by the Supreme Court and the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, it remains a forest even today. However, this land is alienated, real estate companies have built hundreds of flats. Shooting of serials and films is going on. The land is being used for commercial purposes. How this was allowed is questionable', he said. Responding to a journalist's question about why no action has been taken even after seven months of giving notice to officials in the case of IA for denotification of HMT forest land without the permission of the cabinet, the minister said that the forest land in the possession of HMT is the property of 7 crore Kannadigas, which a few officials did not even bring to the attention of the then Forest Minister and applied for denotification without seeking the prior permission of the cabinet. He said that notices have been issued to four officials, including two retired and two serving ones, and that he has recommended action to the Chief Minister. Additional Chief Principal Conservator of Forests R Gokul has written a letter to the CBI seeking protection, saying that he is being victimised because he got the ruling party MLAs punished in the Belikeri case. Responding to a journalist's question whether the government is victimising officials, Khandre said that this is a completely false allegation made against the government. 'On September 24, 2024, I sent a written note to the Additional Chief Secretary, asking for a show cause notice to the officers who had issued IA without the prior approval of the Cabinet and asked them to take action' the Minister said. 'A month after the notice was given, the verdict was delivered in October 2024. R. Gokul wrote a letter to the CBI to cover up his mistake, making false allegations against the government, which could also be considered misconduct by the officer or a threat tactic', he said. He personally visited the HMT forest land area, where there is still 280 acres of plantation. However, the IA was submitted by giving false information to the Supreme Court that the said land has lost its forest status. The officer writing the letter to the CBI in his defence questioned why he did not write a letter to the Chief Minister saying that there is forest on the HMT land. It cannot be submitted as an IA because it has lost its forest status. A high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary was formed in 2015 to discuss and recommend to the government the forest land held by other institutions in Bengaluru. Without even bringing it to the attention of that committee, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court on June 20, 2020, seeking permission for denotification without the permission of the Cabinet. In just 25 days, i.e. on 15 July 2020, a high-level meeting was held to decide the issue 'I have asked the Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Environment and Ecology Department to submit a proposal for denotification of such forest areas after seeking the opinion of the Advocate General regarding the sanction of areas to various/government institutions before 1980 for a decision.' However, he said that ex-post facto permission was not obtained for this. Hence, notices were issued to four officers. He said that he has now submitted a file to the Chief Minister to suspend Gokul and conduct an inquiry, conduct a departmental inquiry against another officer and take action against a retired IAS officer and an IFS officer as per the rules. As soon as this matter came to his notice, an application was filed in the Supreme Court to withdraw the IA. The Cabinet's permission has also been obtained to withdraw the IA, said Eshwar Khandre. The government's intention is to build another huge park in North Bengaluru on the forest land in the possession of HMT. 'Our goal is to save breathing space for the next generation' Eshwar Khandre said and added that he had made this point clear even before filing an application in the Supreme Court to withdraw the IA.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Minister suggests action against four officials over bid to denotify forest land
Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre said he has recommended action against two retired officers and two serving Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, including the suspension of Additional Chief Principal Conservator of Forests R Gokul, in connection with the controversial attempt to denotify forest land held by Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) in the media in Bengaluru, Khandre stated that although the land is currently under HMT's possession, it has not been converted to non-forest use and therefore continues to be classified as forest land as per the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and various Supreme Court judgments. Despite this, the land has been alienated and is being used for commercial purposes, including the construction of residential complexes and film and television shoots. 'How this was allowed is questionable,' he to a question on the lack of action for seven months after notices were issued to officials involved in submitting an interlocutory application (IA) before the Supreme Court without cabinet approval, Khandre criticised the officials for bypassing protocol. 'This forest land is the property of seven crore Kannadigas. Yet, a few officials did not even bring the matter to the attention of the then forest minister and sought denotification without obtaining the cabinet's prior approval," he said. He added that he had issued notices to four officers, including two retired and two serving ones, and had recommended disciplinary action to the Chief Minister. In a letter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Gokul alleged he was being targeted for securing punishment against ruling party legislators in the Belikeri port illegal iron ore export case. However, Khandre dismissed this as false. 'On September 24, 2024, I sent a written note to the Additional Chief Secretary, asking for a show-cause notice and action against those officers who issued the IA without cabinet approval. The Belikeri judgment came a month later, in October 2024. Gokul's letter to the CBI is an attempt to cover up his own actions, and may even amount to misconduct or a threat tactic,' the Minister who personally visited the area, said 280 acres of plantation still exists on the land. He said the IA submitted to the Supreme Court falsely claimed that the land no longer qualified as forest. 'If there is forest on the land, why did the officer not write to the Chief Minister instead of the CBI? One cannot claim in court that the land has lost forest status just to file an IA,' he further pointed out that a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary was formed in 2015 to examine forest land under institutional control in Bengaluru. 'But without even informing the committee, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court on June 20, 2020, seeking denotification. In just 25 days, on July 15, 2020, a high-level meeting instructed the Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, to submit a proposal to the cabinet after seeking the Advocate General's opinion on whether land granted to institutions before 1980 could be denotified. However, no ex-post facto approval was taken for this decision,' he said a file has now been submitted to the Chief Minister recommending the suspension of Gokul and an inquiry, a departmental probe against another serving officer, and appropriate action under service rules against the two retired officers — one from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and another from the also clarified that the government had filed an application in the Supreme Court to withdraw the IA once the issue came to light, and that cabinet approval has been obtained for the the Minister revealed that the government intends to develop a large park on the forest land held by HMT in north Bengaluru. 'We want to preserve breathing space for future generations,' Khandre said, noting that he had made this intention clear even before the IA withdrawal was initiated in the Supreme Court. IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
