Guwahati: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has ordered the Assam government to halt construction of a new Commando Battalion headquarters on protected forest land in Hailakandi district.
The directive comes after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) took suo motu cognizance of the issue based on a news report published in Northeast Now on December 25 last year alleging the project bypassed legal requirements.
A site inspection by the MoEF&CC’s Shillong regional office raised concerns about the scale and permanence of the planned structures.
The report noted that the construction, spanning over 11 hectares with a plinth area of 30,000 square meters, doesn’t qualify as an “ancillary activity” exempt from forest clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
The Act mandates central government approval for converting forest land for non-forestry purposes. The MoEF&CC believes Assam bypassed this process, potentially violating the Act.
In a letter to the Assam government’s Additional Chief Secretary (Forests), the MoEF&CC demanded an immediate halt to construction activities.
“The report of the Regional Office has been examined in the Ministry and prima facie it has been observed that the use of forest land for non forestry activities has been allowed without prior approval of the Central Government which is in contravention of the statutory provisions and rules under Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980,” the letter mentioned.
Taking into account the aforesaid, the State Government is urged to stop all construction activities in the aforementioned area/ land in question, with immediate effect, till further orders or decision in the matter, the letter read.
The letter warns of continued construction attracting penalties under the Forest (Conservation) Act.
Taking a Suo Motu cognizance, based on the Northeast Now report, the NGT issued notice to Assam’s then PCCF MK Yadava, Inspector General of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chief Wildlife Warden of the Assam Forest Department and the District Commissioner of Hailakandi district to appear before it.
The Assam Cabinet in July 2022 decided to establish six commando battalions across the state, with one unit earmarked for the Inner Line Reserve Forest in Hailakandi district.
Despite the protected status of the area, the DFO Hailakandi, with the alleged backing of then PCCF MK Yadava, granted permission to hand over 44 hectares of forest land for the project.