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New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Greener side of Bastar as forest cover increases
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, in recent years, has been making headlines for Maoist-related campaigns involving security forces. At the same time, the extensive area has also witnessed the Chhattisgarh forest department's diligent engagement in achieving a remarkable feat of improving the forest cover density, reinforcing the region's reputation as a thriving green landscape. The India State of Forest Report (ISFR), published by the Forest Survey of India in Dehradun, reflects the results of these consistent efforts, including the utilisation of a satellite-based sensor with a spatial resolution of 23.5 metres. The report highlighted a significant enhancement in forest cover across multiple regions of the Bastar zone—an area larger than the state of Kerala and boasting several tourist attractions and sightseeing spots. With the acknowledged commitment to sustainable forest management and associated conservation initiatives in recent years, the forest department has undertaken various measures to enhance forest cover, thereby strengthening the green footprint. The progress in forest cover density is attributed to multiple factors, including continuous monitoring by the forest department, an effective soil and water conservation programme, removal of invasive weed species and community-led afforestation initiatives, as well as the deep-rooted environmental ethos of Bastar's tribal communities. 'The inspired vision of the Chhattisgarh government gave a boost to the state forest department's proactive and scientific approach that yielded impressive conservation results. The ISFR 2023 data reaffirms the state's commitment to sustainable forest where strategic interventions and active community participation has yielded a major boost on augmenting the forest cover', V Sreenivasa Rao, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, told this newspaper. Several areas in Bastar have shown an upward transition in forest classification. Notable improvements are seen in Jagdalpur Circle — covering forest divisions of Bastar, Bijapur, Sukma and Dantewada and Kanker Circle that includes Keshkal, Bhanupratapur, south Kondagaon and Narayanpur forest divisions', a senior officer elucidated quoting the ISFR report. The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis confirmed that approximately 152 sq km of forest area have transitioned from Moderate Dense Forest to Very Dense Forest. Additionally, 93 sq km of land have improved from non-forest to open forest, while 156 sq km have progressed from open forest to moderate dense forest.
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Delhi Ridge tree-felling case: SC finds DDA officials guilty of criminal contempt, but holds its hand considering CAPFIMS' ‘overarching public interest'
'Overwhelming public interest' saw the Supreme Court restrain itself on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) from initiating contempt action against Delhi Development Authority officials and its former vice-chairperson Subhashish Panda for the illegal felling of hundreds of trees in the protected ridge area without prior permission from the top court. The trees in the protected ecological area in the national capital were felled to construct a broader access road to in order to broaden the access road to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS), a new tertiary hospital primarily catering to paramilitary personnel, their families, pensioners and the public. A Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant, in a judgment, said the cumulative action of cutting the protected trees along with concealing the fact from the apex court during proceedings 'struck at the very heart of the justice delivery system'. 'It contaminates the sanctity of judicial proceedings. It causes irreversible prejudice to parties… We are left with no hesitation to hold that the respondents' (DDA officials) conduct was gravely contumacious, and viewed cumulatively, the irreversible actions amount to blatant obstruction of justice. These actions, in our considered view, fall clearly within the ambit of criminal contempt of the court,' Justice Kant, who pronounced the verdict, said. The petitioner, Bindu Kapurea, had argued that the DDA applied to the apex court for permission to cut the trees without informing the court that the felling had already begun. Ms. Karpurea had submitted that a Forest Survey of India report counted the number of felled trees to be 1,670. However, the DDA had claimed it was 642 trees. The petitioners had alleged that the trees were chopped down on the orders of the Lieutenant Governor, who had visited the site on February 3 last year. 'The instant case is replete with institutional missteps; administrative overreach; of permissions not obtained; of court orders ignored; and the infliction of environmental degradation with impunity. The case raises concerns about governance and accountability,' Justice Kant noted. However, the court was conscious of the 'overwhelming public interest' which had underlined the actions of the DDA. 'Though the DDA officials were in flagrant contempt of the Supreme Court orders, the underlining objective was to facilitate, improve and gain access through broader roads,' the court said. The judgment differentiated between a 'malafide exercise of power and genuine administrative misjudgment'. It said the current case fell within the latter category. 'CAPFIMS is an institution which would primarily function as a tertiary care hospital to cater to the medical needs of the personnel serving in the paramilitary services like BSF, CRPF,ITBP and others, who in the discharge of their duties to the nation are in the line of grave risk,' Justice Kant pointed out. The court said such institutions to ensure that the families of paramilitary personnel, often stationed in remote areas without basic communications, would get world class medical care. 'Ensuring access to quality medical care is not a privilege but an imperative necessity. It is essential and urgent. The noble objective to provide such a medical institution is not just an administrative act, but reflects the moral compass of a welfare State and involves parens patriae… A better road to such an institution to allow emergency vehicles, ambulances easy access to the facility would save the lives of those who routinely safeguard our nation… Overarching public interest weighs heavily on the conscience of this court,' Justice Kant explained the reason for not taking contempt action. Instead, Mr. Panda was let off and the remaining DDA officials involved in the tree felling were directed to pay Rs. 25000 each towards the afforestation effort. The Delhi government and the DDA would charge a one-time levy commensurate with the proportion cost of construction from land owners along the proposed road, who would benefit from it. The levy would be fixed as per the principles of natural justice. The court further constituted a three-member committee of conservationists Sunil Limaye, Pradip Krishen and Sumer Singh to oversee and monitor the afforestation effort in a 185-acre land. The court has asked for periodic reports on the afforestation.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Last opportunity': SC warns govt on Aravalli definition
The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed serious concern over continuing illegal mining in the Aravalli hills and gave the Centre a final two-month deadline to arrive at a common definition of the ecologically crucial mountain ranges. A bench headed by chief justice Bhushan R Gavai told a Centre-led committee that it had already missed its original deadline of July 2024 and gave it a 'last opportunity' to complete the task, with no further extensions. The matter has been listed for hearing in July. 'The order is of May 9, 2024. Meanwhile, the states must tell us what action you are taking to ensure illegal mining does not take place,' said the bench, which also comprised justice AG Masih. Senior advocate K Parmeshwar, assisting the court as amicus curiae, painted a grim picture of the situation. 'There is rampant illegal mining going on in Aravalli hills. The regulatory mechanism is messed up. If the states had any interest to protect the Aravalli hills, they should have come out with the report by now.' The committee, comprising the Union environment ministry secretary, forest department secretaries from Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat, and representatives of the Forest Survey of India, Geological Survey of India and Central Empowered Committee, has sought extensions three times since the original two-month deadline laid down through the May 9, 2024 order. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said the committee had held joint meetings and the report was in its 'last leg of preparations.' The need for a uniform definition arose after the Central Empowered Committee submitted a report showing how the Aravalli hills are either undefined or defined in ways that facilitate illegal mining. A glaring example is Rajasthan's definition that includes only hills above 100 metres as part of the Aravallis, enabling mining activities between 0-99 metres. The court had earlier criticised this '100-metre rule' as very problematic, remarking: 'If the area does not have the support of slopes, the land will become barren. What is the purpose of having some structure as Aravalli with other slopes all ruined.' A 2018 Forest Survey of India report revealed that 31 hillocks had disappeared due to rampant illegal mining, while over 3,000 illegal mining sites were discovered across the Aravallis in Rajasthan and Haryana. The court also addressed applications from miners seeking lease renewals. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing marble producers in Rajasthan, said their leases had expired in March and the state had refused renewals citing the May 9 order. 'We are in favour of the report being produced at the earliest. But till then, our livelihoods have stopped,' Singh said. The court clarified that restrictions applied only to new licences, not renewals, and directed states to respond to the miners' applications. Parmeshwar suggested that once the definition is finalised, individual mining applications should consider the carrying capacity of the entire Aravalli range for the next 50-100 years. He also recommended enforcing a ban across the entire range and ensuring no new mining leases are granted. The Aravalli range serves as a crucial climate barrier, blocking eastward winds from the Thar desert and preventing Delhi from experiencing dry, arid conditions. The Supreme Court had banned mining activities across the entire Aravalli region in Haryana and Rajasthan in 2002 after Central Empowered Committee reports indicated that illegal mining had consumed 25% of the range. The court has previously indicated that a balance must be struck between sustainable development and environmental protection.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Prayagraj sets target to plant over 73L saplings from July 1
Authorities in Prayagraj have launched an extensive plantation campaign to increase the district's green cover. Starting July 1, over 73.15 lakh saplings will be planted across urban and rural areas under a coordinated effort involving 24 government departments. District forest officer (DFO) Arvind Kumar, who is also the nodal officer of the campaign, shared that the rural development department alone has been assigned a target of 29.87 lakh saplings, followed by the forest department with 22.45 lakh. 'All departments have been made aware of their roles, and this will be implemented like a 'festival' with active public participation,' the DFO said. Officials say the plantation drives over recent years are producing measurable outcomes. A 27.06 square kilometre increase in greenery has been recorded in both urban and rural regions of Prayagraj. According to data from the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, greenery in the district has increased by 2.32% in 2017, 2.36% in 2019 and 2.85% in 2021. In 2023, an increase of 3.30% has been recorded in it, the official said. In another encouraging sign, 95% of the saplings planted by the forest department in 2023 have survived, the official added. Currently, Uttar Pradesh has 15,045.80 sq km of green area, comprising 6.24% of the total forest cover of the country. In addition to increasing tree cover, the campaign is also focusing on boosting local biodiversity. Forest officials confirmed that the plantation drive will prioritise native species such as neem, peepal, banyan, arjun, amla, and tamarind, as they are better adapted to local soil and climate, and support local wildlife. 'These species provide food and shelter for a range of organisms—birds, insects, butterflies, and small animals. Planting a variety of fruit-bearing, flowering, and leafy trees will help attract and support diverse forms of life,' a forest department official said.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Declare Kancha Gachibowli site as forest land, says CEC in final report
Hyderabad: In its final report submitted to the Supreme Court on Thursday, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) recommended that the 400-acre Kancha Gachibowli site be declared as forest land and brought under the jurisdiction of the Telangana forest department . It also called for urgent ecological restoration of the area through long-term conservation efforts. The three-member SC body that visited the city following protests by University of Hyderabad (UoH) students and environmentalists last month, had submitted its interim report on April 15. "The land parcel that has been cleared of vegetation shall be restored to its original shape by raising a dense plantation of native tree and shrub species by the forest department in the coming rainy season," stated the report, a copy of which is with TOI. Quoting from the Forest Survey of India (FSI) assessment, commissioned by the CEC, it stated that about 105 acres were illegally cleared, converting previously dense and moderately dense forest into non-forest land. "The FSI found that over 60% to 70% of the larger 409-acre parcel consisted of medium to dense forest, validating the land's ecological significance," it read, adding that 1,399 exempted trees, 125 non-exempted trees were felled unlawfully "by contractor S Govindu Krishna, partner of M/s Delta Corporation". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sua próxima viagem te espera Azul Saiba Mais Undo "A case was booked against him under the WALTA Act 2002, following which three JCBs were seized, and a penalty of Rs five lakh was imposed on the zonal manager, TGIIC, for failing to monitor the contractor," the report further read. In addition, the committee asked the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to shut all sewage outlets flowing into the four water bodies on campus — Peacock Lake, Gunneru Kunta, Guntla Kunta, and Chilukala Kunta — and preserve them as wetlands. It urged the civic body to set up sewage treatment plant outside the university limits within the next 12 months. The CEC also asked the state to reconstitute its expert committee to identify forest-like areas across Telangana. "The team must include field forest officers, wildlife experts, ecologists, IT and remote sensing professionals, and survey agencies to ensure proper identification of forest-like areas as per the Court's orders," the report stated.
