National Green Tribunal | A bench comprising of Adarsh Kumar Goel (Chairperson), Sudhir Agarwal (Judicial Member), JJ., and A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member) took suo motu cognizance based on media report “Over 6,000 trees illegally cut for tiger safari project in Corbett Reserve, says FSI report” published on 02-10-2022 in the Hindu newspaper, and acknowledged the illegality in cutting the trees.
The Tribunal observed that report submitted by Forest Survey of India (FSI) “Illegal felling of trees for the establishment of Pakhro Tiger Safari, Uttarakhand” dated 06-09-2022 clearly acknowledges the fact that cutting of trees is going on illegally, therefore accountability must be fixed, and environmental damage must be repaired by following due process of law.
The Tribunal constituted a three-member committee to identify violators as well as steps required for environmental restoration. The committee is comprised of DG, Forest Department, ADG, Wildlife Department and ADG, Project Tiger.
The Tribunal directed the committee to submit a report to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) within a month and suspended the project until the committee identifies the offenders, and the environmental damage is undone.
“Accordingly, we constitute a three-Member Committee comprising DG, Forest Department, ADG, Wildlife Department and ADG, Project Tiger to identify the violators and the steps required for restoration of environment. Its report with specific recommendations may be furnished to the Secretary, MoEF&CC within one month and steps for further course of action in the matter be finalised within next one month. Till then the Project may not be allowed to proceed.”
[In re: news item published in the Newspaper The Hindu dated 02.10.2022 titled “Over 6,000 trees illegally cut for tiger safari project in Corbett Reserve, says FSI report”, 2022 SCC OnLine NGT 235, order dated 21-10-2022]
Advocates who appeared in this case :
Mr. Anoop Singh (Director General, Forest Survey of India), Dr. Samir Sinha (PCCF, Wildlife) and Mr. Abhishek Attrey, Counsel for the Respondent/State.
*Ritu Singh, Editorial Assistant has put this report together.
