Latest news with #MoEFCC
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Union ministry seeks report on wildlife sanctuary violations in Raj
Jaipur: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has demanded a detailed report from the Rajasthan govt regarding alleged irregularities in Sariska and Nahargarh sanctuary areas, following concerns raised by Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The development came to light when Beniwal shared the ministry's communication on social media platform X on Monday. The letter to the Nagaur MP, dated May 7, 2025, was sent by Union minister Bhupender Yadav in response to issues raised during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha earlier this year. The controversy stems from allegations made by Beniwal during the March 12 parliamentary session, where he accused the state authorities of manipulating sanctuary boundaries under political patronage to favour hotel owners and mining operators, in direct violation of Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives. According to Beniwal, over two dozen hotels are currently operating in violation of court rulings - approximately twelve in Alwar's Siliserh area and another dozen in the Ajabgarh–Jamwaramgarh range. The MP claimed these commercial activities continue unchecked in eco-sensitive zones, with state officials limiting their response to merely issuing notices. In its communication to the Rajasthan forest department, the ministry has directed prompt examination of the matter and appropriate action, demanding updates on measures taken. While acknowledging that wildlife and habitat management primarily falls under state jurisdiction, the ministry's intervention signals growing concern over the alleged violations.
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Violations rampant in Sultanpur park buffer zone, wildlife board rejects nod to projects
Gurgaon: Citing repeated regulatory violations and inaction by Haryana govt, the standing committee of National Board for Wildlife has declined approval to three infrastructure projects proposed within the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Sultanpur National Park, which is also a Ramsar site. The minutes of the standing committee meeting on May 9 were uploaded on Friday. These three affordable housing projects are being constructed between 4 and 4.4 km within the ESZ. The projects are situated in the notified ESZ of Sultanpur National Park, a protected area known for its biodiversity and international recognition as a wetland of global importance. The committee has flagged 78 instances of violations within the ESZ. The report underscored the degradation of Sultanpur Jheel, overdependence on the Gurgaon canal for water supply, invasion by non-native species and unchecked construction activity as growing threats to the park's fragile wetland ecosystem. Asked about illegal structures coming up so close to the park, a wildlife department official said, "We have already submitted a list of 32 violations in the eco-sensitive zone. The department of town and country planning will take action." On Dec 19, 2023, the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) had constituted a site inspection team following concerns over unapproved construction activity. The inspection, carried out on Jan 23, 2024, revealed that the user agencies initiated construction work without prior clearance. This led to the constitution of a high-level committee chaired by the inspector general of forests (wildlife) to assess cumulative environmental impacts and identify no-development zones around the park. On May 9, the committee decided the state must act on the panel's recommendations and report back, withholding approval for the projects. "The standing committee therefore decided that the state govt shall take action on the recommendations of the committee constituted under the chairmanship of inspector general of forests (wildlife) and against the violations noted by the committee and forward the action taken report to the ministry," the minutes of the May 9 meeting said. Despite repeated communications from the ministry, Haryana govt failed to provide an action taken report (ATR) on the violations, prompting the standing committee to take a firm stance during its 79th meeting. It ruled against the pending proposals and mandated the state govt to act on the committee's recommendations, initiate legal and regulatory proceedings against violators and submit a comprehensive ATR. The regional office has been tasked with monitoring the enforcement process and reporting to the ministry on a monthly basis. The decision also aligns with a directive of Punjab and Haryana high court in CWP-3563-2023 (OM), which ordered the standing committee to conclude its deliberations within three months while ensuring a fair hearing to project proponents. Speaking during the meeting, director general of forests Sushil Kumar Awasthi emphasised the critical role of hydrology in sustaining the region's biodiversity. Committee member Dr HS Singh highlighted the need for ecological restoration of floodplains and tank beds. Echoing these sentiments, standing committee chairman Bhupender Yadav stressed that wetlands are equally vital as forests, serving as key carbon sinks and biodiversity reservoirs. The committee concluded that the Sultanpur National Park is one of the most significant biodiversity areas adjoining Gurgaon. The report highlighted that maintenance of the biodiversity and ecosystem service values of the national park is crucial for the ecological and economic security of the region, as well as a contribution to the maintenance of global biodiversity (for which the park has been designated as a Wetland of International Importance).
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Climate
- New Indian Express
MoEFCC rejects forest clearance for Sharavathi hydro project; cites landslide risk, Western Ghats damage
BENGALURU: The recently submitted site inspection report by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of India (MoEFCC) on the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project in Shivamogga district stated that the project cannot be cleared as the compensatory land offered is not adequate. Moreover, the project will lead to major landslides and destruction of the Western Ghats. The report has come at a time when the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority has listed Shivamogga as one of the districts vulnerable to landslides and floods with increasing development activities. 'As the project involves steep slope-cutting of up to 60 degrees, formation of new roads, widening of existing roads, felling of over 15,000 trees and blasting of sub-surface rocks, high rainfall coupled with exposure of steep slopes and soil would make the region vulnerable to landslides,' the report said The project will have two reservoirs. Drilling and blasting of rocks for the construction of 500-metre deep 3.2km nine-diametre underground tunnels will be disastrous not only for the ecology, but also for human habitations, the report stated. A team from MoEFCC visited the project sites from May 7-9. The state's Energy Department had submitted a proposal to the Karnataka Forest and Environment Department and to MoEFCC seeking clearance for diversion of 54.155 hectares of forestland in Sagar, Shivamogga and Honnavar forest divisions for the project to generate and store 2000MW of power. The project is being executed by Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL).
New Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Odisha to seek MoEFCC clearance on Deomali eco-tourism project
BHUBANESWAR : The state government is working to get clearance of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on Deomali eco-tourism project within three months as ordered by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), sources in the Forest department said. As an alternative option, it is also considering to go for appeal against the tribunal order. PCCF (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden Prem Kumar Jha said the department is going through the details of the NGT order. 'As we have been granted three months time, a decision permissible under law will be taken soon to comply with the order within the timeline,' Jha informed. The NGT recently asked the state government to get clearance from the Centre for the structure under Forest (Conservation) Act within three months or demolish them and restore the land to its original form. The NGT's Eastern Zone bench of Justice B Amit Sthalekar (Judicial member) and Arun Kumar Verma (Expert member) had held that constructions made under the guise of eco-tourism development violated forest conservation norms and lacked requisite permissions.
New Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Environmentalists urge MoEFCC to reconsider implementation of Aravalli green wall project
Environmentalists are urging the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to reconsider the implementation of the Aravalli Green Wall Project, warning that the plan poses significant risks to India's oldest mountain range. The statement was made by the 'People for Aravallis' group shortly after Union Minister Bhupender Yadav announced during a national workshop in Rajasthan on 22 May 2025 that the project would enhance green cover and biodiversity in the Aravalli range. Neelam Ahluwalia, a founding member of the non-profit People for Aravallis, expressed concern about the project's implementation through the 'Green Credit Programme' for eco-restoration work in the Aravalli landscape. Additionally, a legal petition is currently pending in the Supreme Court, filed in early March 2025 by People for Aravallis and the Goa-based group 'Rainbow Warriors'. This petition challenges the existing Green Credit Rules (GCR), emphasising that the rules inadequately address the responsibility of the entity seeking green credits. Specifically, the GCR focuses only on the initial planting of trees and does not ensure the long-term survival of those trees. Further, the GCR allows the plantation of 1,100 trees per hectare without any scientific study and permits plantations in fragile ecosystems such as open forests, scrublands, wastelands and catchment areas.
