Guwahati: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a halt to the construction of a road within the Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary in south Assam’s Cachar district.
The decision comes in response to an original application filed by Pradeep Singh Shekhawat, a resident of Jaipur in Rajasthan, who alleged that the road construction was being carried out without necessary approvals from the Central government.
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The NGT bench, comprising Justice B. Amit Sthalekar and Dr. Arun Kumar Verma, found merit in the applicant’s claims and issued a stay order on the construction on September 19.
“Considering the allegations made, as an interim measure, we provide that unless and until there is sanction from the central government as required under Section 2 of Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, no construction shall be permitted within the Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary during the pendency of the present original application,” the order read.
The tribunal noted that the construction of the road within the protected area violated the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
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The NGT also directed the Assam government and other concerned authorities–the Assam Forest Department, special chief secretary (forests) MK Yadava, Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and deputy commissioner of Cachar–to submit their counter-affidavits within four weeks and ordered a site inspection to assess the damage caused to the sanctuary.
The court posted the matter for further hearing on December 6, 2024.
Shekhawat alleged in his application that MK Yadava, then PCCF and now the special chief secretary (forest), had illegally authorized the diversion of 15 hectares of forest land within the wildlife sanctuary for the construction of a road leading to Bhuban Hill.
The petitioner claimed that this is not the first instance of Yadava being accused of misusing his power. Two other petitions are pending before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) related to alleged illegal forest clearances for a Commando Battalion headquarters at Inner Line Reserve Forest in Hailakandi district and another battalion at Galecki Sivasagar district of Assam.