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The Gauhati High Court on December 16 registered a Suo Motu PIL on the issue of indiscriminate felling of trees in Aizawl.
The Aizawl Division Bench of Justice Nelson Sailo and Justice Marli Vankung noted that that many trees within the city of Aizawl, particularly in and around Chlatlang, Bethel Veng, next to the District Institute of Education Training, Aizawl (DIET) are being felled indiscriminately.
It is also brought to the notice of the Court that in a recent survey conducted in various cities of the country, Aizawl city has been adjudged amongst those cities having the best air quality.
The Court held that it is a common knowledge that the felling of trees indiscriminately may lead to environmental imbalance, leading to soil erosion amongst others.
“As such, the indiscriminate felling of trees has caused a great concern to the environmental imbalance in and around the city,”
-said the Court.
The Bench accordingly directed the Registry to register the instant case as a PIL by arraying the following as the respondents:- (1) The State of Mizoram, represented by the Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Mizoram. (2) Secretary to the Govt. of Mizoram, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department (3) Secretary to the Govt. of Mizoram, Public Works Department. (4) Secretary to the Govt. of Mizoram, Education Department. (5) The Principal Conservator of Forest, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, Mizoram, Aizawl.
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The Court further issued notice to the respondents.
It is further directed by the Court to the Secretary of the Mizoram, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department to file an affidavit on the concern raised in this PIL by the next date.
“We are also compelled to pass an interim order to the effect that until the next returnable date, the respondent authorities shall ensure that no trees are felled in and around Chaltlang, Bethel Veng, more particularly near DIET,”
-the order reads.
The Court posted the matter on January 19, 2022 for further hearing.