TV
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued orders to constitute a four-member panel to look into the reports of violation of the Forest Act, 1980 by the Shikharchandi Hills project undertaken in Bhubaneswar.
The NGT issued directive to constitute a four-member panel headed by the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) to conduct spot visit and submit a report within three weeks.
The Tribunal issued these orders hearing a plea made by one Sachin Mohapatra alleging damage to the environment by construction works on the hilltop including earth moving, blasting of rocks and felling of trees.
As per the application, Shikharchandi Hill is a part of the eastern ghat mountains, which is extremely rich in biodiversity with varied flora and fauna. Apart from that, there are abundant wild and medicinal plants in the area. The applicant further alleged that there is no forest clearance for cutting of trees too.
The NGT in its order said, “The applicant has drawn our attention to photographs showing construction activities, cutting of trees and apparent damage by such activities in the context of loss of biodiversity. It is pointed out that availability of rare medicinal and wild plants in the area stands documented in reputed journals on the subject. The applicant has also referred to media report mentioning about 10 acres of forest has been razed to the ground for the project in question.”
“It does prima facie appear that the project may be in violation of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and may result in damage to the bio-diversity, particularly, rare and endangered medicinal and wild plant species and overall integrity of the hill. Thus, intervention of this Tribunal may be necessary under section 15 of the NGT Act to prevent further damage and to restore the damage already done after independent verification of facts,” the Tribunal said.
