The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took Suo Motu cognizance that about 2 lakh acres of forest land has been encroached and that there is a need to remove big encroachments on forest land around Bengaluru city and forest land near other cities.
The Petition is registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item appearing in the daily newspaper dated 02.01.2024.
The news item reveals that about 2 lakh acres of forest land has been encroached and that there is a need to remove big encroachments on forest land around Bengaluru city and forest land near other cities. The news item discloses that though Rs. 400 crore worth of forest land, that was encroached near Kothanur, has been taken back and criminal cases have been filed against revenue officials who had converted the land, but while the population of wild animals is increasing, the forest area is not increasing resultantly the man-animal conflict is taking place.
Considering the large-scale encroachment even on the forest land, the Forest Minister of Karnataka has directed the forest officials to remove encroachment on the forest land in the State.
The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of environmental norms.
“Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu exercise of power has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.”
Hence, the Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Dr. A Senthil Vel impleaded the following as respondents in the matter:
i. Principal Secretary, Environment and Forest Department Karnataka.
ii. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Karnataka Forest Department.
iii. Chief Wildlife Warden, Karnataka Forest Department,
Since the matter relates to the Southern Zone Bench, Chennai, therefore , the Bench transferred the matter to the Southern Zone Bench for appropriate further action. Office is directed by the NGT to transfer the original record to the Southern Zone Bench and the matter is listed on 12.04.2024.