Latest news with #SanrakshanEvamSamvardhan)Adhiniyam
Time of India
17-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
NGT asks govt to get forest nod or demolish Deomali structures
1 2 Koraput: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the state govt to obtain forest clearance within three months or remove all structures built on Deomali hill under the eco-tourism project. The order, issued on Friday, mandates the state to seek approval from the Centre under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. If the govt fails to get the nod, it must dismantle the constructions and restore the land to its original state, the NGT said. Deomali hill, located in Koraput's Pottangi block, has rich biodiversity. NGT's directive comes in response to a 2023 petition by the Wildlife Society of Odisha , which raised concerns over unauthorised constructions threatening the local ecosystem. The forest department has built 10 cottages, a dining hall, dormitories and other facilities on 5.93 hectares of forest land using cement fibre board. NGT also directed the govt to maintain a pine plantation undertaken over 1.5–2 hectares and make efforts to expand it. Strictly prohibiting diversion of forest land for other purposes, NGT's east zone bench in Kolkata cited the 1980 Act and Forest Rights Act, 2006. "In any case, no diversion of the land in question shall be made for non-forestry purposes and the respondents shall ensure strict compliance of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 read with the Forest Rights Act, 2006," the bench stated in its order. Divisional forest officer (Koraput), Bhaskar Rao, said, "We are examining the NGT order which we received on Friday. After consultation with authorities and legal experts, necessary action will be taken."
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
National Green Tribunal halts ecotourism at Odisha's highest peak Deomali
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has halted ecotourism at Deomali, the highest peak in Odisha in the Koraput district, and ordered the state to secure clearance under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, for structures built for it within three months or demolish them and restore the land. NGT's eastern zonal bench of Justice B Amit Sthalekar and Arun Kumar Verma said 10 cottages for tourists with dining halls and dormitories, and other constructions lacked permissions. 'If the required approval is not obtained within the stipulated time, erected shall be removed, and the area shall be restored to its original form. In any case, no diversion of the land in question shall be made for non-forestry purposes, and the respondents [state and the Union governments] shall ensure strict compliance with the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, read with the Forest Rights Act, 2006,' the bench said. The bench directed maintenance of a 1.5-2 hectare pine plantation. Deomali, a mountaintop tableland in the Eastern Ghats range, is 5,486 feet above sea level. The Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO), a non-profit organisation, moved the NGT against the constructions, arguing they flouted sustainable development principles. Lawyer Sankar Prasad Pani, who represented WSO, said any non-forest activity in the area requires prior approval under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. 'If the land is not a notified forest and is devoid of trees and vegetation, as is the stand taken, the DFO [divisional forest officer] would have no role in issuing a tender notice for civil works,' said Pani. The Koraput DFO submitted that the ecotourism project site does not fall within any notified forest block or recorded forest land as per the government records, and it is not identified as deemed forest. The NGT was unsatisfied with the submission and said the question arises as to why village level meetings were held for the formation of Van Surakhya Samiti if the state's stand is to be accepted. 'If the land in question was revenue land, the procedure as prescribed under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, would have had no application or necessity,' the bench said. The Deomali project is part of the Union government's Swadesh Darshan Scheme for infrastructure development to boost tourism. The tourism department has separately sanctioned ₹16 crore for the integrated development of the area. There is also a proposal for an ecotourism complex at an estimated cost of about ₹4.5 crore.
Hindustan Times
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
State govt gives nod for diversion of reserve forest land for road projects in Pune
The Maharashtra state government has granted final approval for the diversion of reserved forest land in four tehsils of Pune district--Indapur, Daund, Shirur and Purandar. A Government Resolution (GR) formalising the decision was issued on May 9. The diversion was mainly proposed for district and state highway construction or extension purposes. The conditions for the approval included compensatory afforestation, alternative land transfer to the forest department, and also obtaining necessary wildlife permission from the competent authority if required, said officials. Deepak Pawar, assistant conservator of forest, Pune division, said,'I have not received the order copy yet. We will share more details after checking the details mentioned in the order copy.' As per the GR, the Maharashtra government in 2023 received proposals from the additional principal chief conservator of forests and nodal officer, Maharashtra state. These proposals included diversion of reserve forest land for road repair, widening and even construction work. The government has provided an in-principle approval earlier, and after careful consideration of the proposal and compliance report, the state government has issued the final approval for diversion of reserve forest land under Section 2 of Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. The GR, along with 29 conditions, also mentioned that the legal status of the land will remain unchanged, and forest land will be handed over only after the required non-forest land for the project is handed over to the user agency. The other significant conditions include: compensatory afforestation shall be taken up by the forest department at the cost of the user agency. The forest department is also directed to charge the Net Present Value (NPV) for the 0.09 ha. Forest land is to be diverted under this proposal from the user agency. The conditions also mentioned that the user agency shall obtain wildlife clearance, if required.
