The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took Suo Motu cognizance of the matter relating to the large scale illegal felling of Khair trees around Sundarpur village of the Balrampur district’s forest range Dhamni in Chhattisgarh.
The Petition is registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item dated 02.07.2024.
As per the article, the smugglers have stored more than 10 tractor loads of felled wood in the Sundarpur nursery. The article alleges that interstate wood smuggling gangs are quite active in Dhamani range, who illegally cut wood in the dark of night and store it in forest land. The forest and revenue departments have not taken any action on the said issue.
The above matter indicated Bench violation of the provisions of The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment.
“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, Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi , Dr. A. Senthil Vel and Dr. Afroz Ahmad impleaded the following as respondents in the matter:
(i) Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Chhattisgarh.
(ii) Chief Wildlife Warden, Chhattisgarh.
(iii) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
(iv) DM (Balrampur).
The Bench issued notice to the Respondents.
Since the matter relates to the Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal, therefore, the Bench transferred the matter to the Central Zonal Bench for appropriate further action.Office is directed by the NGT to transfer the original record to the Central Zonal Bench and the matter is listed on 23.09.2024.