The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal, comprising Justice Prakash Srivastava (Chairperson), Afroz Ahmad (Expert Member) and Dr Senthil Vel (Expert Member) in the case of Manoj Singh Vs Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Uttarakhand & Ors has constitute Joint Committeee to address the alleged violation of environmental norms related to the illegal felling of trees for road construction in the Naina Devi Himalayan Bird Conservation Reserve in the Budh-Pangot area of Nainital, Uttarakhand.
The applicant had raised grievance in respect of the hotel owners with the support of the Forest Department by demolishing and cutting the reserve forest land located on the slanting hills in Naina Devi Himalayan Bird Conservation Reserve in Budh-Pangot area of Nainital, Uttarakhand, have constructed the road.
The Bench was informed that widening of the said road had continued till December 2022 by cutting the forest land on the sides of this road in violation of the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change dated 28.03.2019.
Considering the allegations and facts of the case, the Bench observed that the allegation made by the applicant reflects violation of environmental laws specially the scheduled acts and involves substantial question relating to environment.
Therefore, the Bench constituted a joint Committee comprising of Wildlife Warden, Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEP&PCB) and District Magistrate, Nainital to investigate into the alleged violations and the District Magistrate, Nainital will act as nodal agency for coordination and compliance.
The Tribunal in its earlier order had disposed of the original application with the direction that grievance can be looked into and based on verification of facts, remedial action can be taken in accordance with the earlier directions of the Tribunal.
The Bench listed the mater on 11.12.23 for next hearing.
Case Details
Case:- Original Application No. 560/2023
Petitioner:- Manoj Singh
Respondent:- Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Uttarakhand & Ors
Judge: Justice Prakash Srivastava (Chairperson), Afroz Ahmad (Expert Member) and Dr Senthil Vel (Expert Member)
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