NGT gives Forest Department 1 month to report on forest fire prevention steps

The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given 1 month to the Kerala Forest Department for submitting its report on the steps taken to prevent forest fires & implement the National Action Plan on Forest Fire in the State.

An order by the Bench, comprising Justice K. Ramakrishnan & expert member Saibal Dasgupta, on June 11 said 3 months had passed after it directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & the Head of the Forest Force in Thiruvananthapuram to submit a report on the steps taken to prevent such incidents in the aftermath of a fire that killed three forest guards at Kottambathur, near Desamangalam, in Thrissur on Feb 16.

More time sought
The Govt sought 2 months for filing the report when the case was taken up on Thursday.

The order said regarding implementation of the National Action Plan on Forest Fire, an action taken report could have been prepared & submitted based on available records, for which two months was not required.

The order said that “Considering the circumstances, we grant one-month time to the official respondents to comply with the direction issued by this tribunal by order dated 27.02.2020".

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