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Time of India
05-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
NGT orders probe into illegal mining near STR
1 2 Jaipur: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Central Zone Bench has ordered a joint committee probe into allegations of illegal mining on reserved forest land near the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar district. The bench, comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh (judicial member) and Dr A. Senthil Vel (expert member), issued the directions on July 28 during a hearing on a petition highlighting environmental concerns in the region. According to the order, a joint committee was constituted comprising representatives from the principal chief conservator of Forests, Mines and Geology Department (Udaipur), and Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RPCB). "The RPCB will serve as the nodal agency for coordination and logistics. The committee is directed to visit the site and submit a factual and action taken report within six weeks," the order stated. The matter is scheduled for the next hearing on October 7, 2025. The complaint alleged that a private miner was operating beyond the approved limits of Mining Lease No. 258/89 in Village Jhiri, Tehsil Thanagazi, and encroached upon 1,876 square meters of reserved forest land in Khasra No. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo 1116, falling under Tehsil Pratapgarh. The area is located in close proximity to the eco-sensitive zone of the Sariska Tiger Reserve. On June 29, TOI also reported on the issue in a story titled 'Blasting operations at night disturbing wildlife': Marble mining threatens big cats in Rajasthan's Sariska Tiger Reserve. It is further alleged that mining activities were carried out in violation of mandatory environmental clearance, consent to operate, and wildlife clearance, resulting in irreparable damage to the forest and its wildlife habitat. An official familiar with the matter said, "A joint departmental survey conducted on May 31, 2025, and its report dated June 4, 2025, confirmed that illegal mining took place on protected forest land. The Tribunal noted that this violates Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, and the Supreme Court's landmark judgment in the T.N. Godavarman case." Acknowledging the seriousness of the issue, the Tribunal restructured the list of respondents, removed duplications, and added the RPCB through its member secretary as a necessary party.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Complete demarcation of Nahargarh sanctuary: NGT
1 2 Jaipur: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the state govt to finalise demarcation and digitisation of land in Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary and its Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) amid growing concerns over illegal constructions, encroachments and disputes regarding land rights. The matter pertains to the land of VanKhand Amer-54, which was notified as part of the sanctuary through govt notifications issued in 1961 and 1980. The NGT's Central Zone Bench in Bhopal, comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad, heard the case between Kamal Tiwari and the Union of India & others via video conferencing on May 27. The tribunal was informed of several serious issues, including the absence of clear demarcation, unauthorised constructions and failure to mutate the land in favour of the forest department. "Disputes also arose between individuals claiming rights over the land and authorities seeking to remove illegal structures from the forest area," the order states. The tribunal was apprised of the urgent need to prepare a digital map based on original forest notifications, land records, and khasra-scale mapping. "The process involves assessing the current status of notified forest land, revenue land, and other categories through physical verification and village-wise justification," said a senior forest official. The tribunal also took note of recent directions from Supreme Court in a related matter, wherein all States and Union Territories were instructed to prepare a consolidated record of forest land—including forest-like areas identified by expert committees—within one year. The Supreme Court further directed the Union of India to issue necessary circulars for compliance and digitization of forest land. In compliance with these directions, Rajasthan's principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden convened a high-level meeting. A committee of more than nine members was formed to undertake the demarcation exercise. "A preliminary report was submitted and is currently under verification by wildlife department. The matter will now be heard on Sept 8, 2025," said an official.
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Tree census ordered after allegations that hundreds were cut down for cricket stadium in Madhya Pradesh
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Bhopal has directed forest authorities in Madhya Pradesh to carry out a state-wide tree census and implement geo-tagging of trees, following a plea alleging that 700 trees were illegally felled in an ecologically sensitive area to make way for a cricket stadium and a road. A bench comprising judicial member Sheo Kumar Singh and technical member Afroz Ahmad ordered that the census be conducted city-wise and district-wise across the state. 'There should be a tree census within the state, city-wise and district-wise to be monitored by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest or an official nominated by the PCCF,' the tribunal said. The NGT also directed a joint committee to submit a report on the tree-felling allegations. This committee will include representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's integrated office in Bhopal, the Central Pollution Control Board (Bhopal), the Additional Chief Conservator of Forest (Bhopal), and the State Pollution Control Board. The NGT said it would take between 70 and 100 years to regenerate the green cover provided by 700 trees. '…thus the destruction of so many trees adversely affects the environment and lives of several human beings. Accordingly, the compensation of compensatory afforestation should be in ratio to that period and ratio to the oxygen generated by the plant during the lifetime of the trees,' the tribunal said. The order came in response to a plea filed by Nitin Saxena, who alleged that 700 trees were illegally cut down in violation of the state's tree conservation law — Madhya Pradesh Vrikshon Ka Parirakshan (Nagariya Kshetra) Adhiniyam, 2001. The trees were allegedly felled to facilitate construction within the catchment area of the Bhoj Wetland, near the Neelbad-Barkheda Nathu area in Bhopal. Saxena emphasised the ecological significance of the Bhoj Wetland, a designated Ramsar site — a site that is designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The NGT also directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Divisional Forest Officers to ensure that geo-tagging of all trees be made mandatory, so that accurate records of their location, species, and number can be maintained. The geo-tagging data must be published and reported to the Chief Conservator of Forests, the tribunal added.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
NGT orders expert panel to examine pollution from Satna shaw mills
Bhopal: The central bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) asked for the constitution of an expert committee to examine the issues raised in a petition seeking the intervention of the green tribunal to check pollution and damage to the environment caused by shaw mills and factories producing wooden goods in Satna district and nearby areas. Hearing the petition filed by Mahendra Pratap Singh from Satna, the NGT judicial member Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Dr Agroz Ahmed also issued notices to the state govt, forest department, MP Pollution Control Board, and district collector, Satna, seeking a response. The expert committee was asked to submit a report to the tribunal before the next hearing of the case on July 21. Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Amit Singh Sengar and Deepankar Singh said most of the shaw mills and factories are illegally operated. They are polluting water in the ponds and other water bodies with the hazardous chemicals put on the wooden logs. Besides, shaw mills create noise and emit smoke, which is damaging the atmosphere. They contended that no shaw mill or plywood factories operating without a licence should be immediately closed. They further argued that in the year 2010, the district collector, Satna, issued a circular banning the opening of a shaw mill or stone crusher unit within a 5 km radius of the urban area or a residential area. Following the initial hearing, the NGT ordered the constitution of an expert committee to examine the issue and issued notices to the respondents. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
