Notify elephant corridors within a month or face music: NGT warns Odisha PCCF

In yet another embarrassment, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has warned the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) (wildlife) to notify the elephant corridors in the state or else face punishment. The NGT has warned proceedings for punishment under section 26 of the NGT Act, if the elephant corridors are not notified within a month.

It is pertinent to mention here that the NGT in August 2021 had asked the Odisha government to release the notification regarding 14 elephant corridors in the State. As the State government had reportedly failed to issue the notification, the conservationists lodged a complaint and the NGT.

“We are surprised that even after the passage of two and a half years the State Government has not been able to notify the elephant corridors under section 3 of the Environmental Protection Act,” the NGT order read.

The NGT order further read, “We grant one month’s time and no more to notify the elephant corridors otherwise the concerned authorities shall be liable under section 26 of the National Green Tribunal Act.”

Shankar Pani, NGT advocate said, “The NGT has given one month’s time to notify the corridors or else face punishment. There is a provision of fine and 5 years jail term for violation of the order under section 26 of the NGT Act.”