3 days ago
Protecting Shivalik ecosystem: SC-constituted committee to probe forest law violations in Mohali
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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.
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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.
