The National Green Tribunal has taken took suo motu cognizance of forest encroachment in the Kamrup (Metro) district of Assam.
The Original Application is registered suo-motu on the basis of the news item dated November 6, 2024.
As per the article, Kamrup (Metro) has 16 reserved forests covering more than 35,329 hectares, but a substantial portion of these forests has been encroached upon. The encroachment includes ecologically important hills like Fatasil, South Kalapahar, Jalukbari, Gotanagar, Hengrabari, Sarania, and Garbhanga.
The news item highlights that though the Government launches eviction drives from time to time but that is not enough to deal with the problem. Due to the encroachment of the forests, the man-animal conflict is increasing in several parts of the State, which has become a major cause of concern. Forest encroachments have also increased temperature and this year, Assam faced the hottest September month ever.
The article states that in the last couple of years, over 113 eviction drives were launched, clearing 402.32 hectares in 2022-23 and 564.58 hectares in 2023-24.
Furthermore, it is asserted that in some forests, people are staying for years and it may be difficult to evict them. Forests along the inter-state boundaries are also under encroachment by the neighbouring states and those can be cleared only after the boundary disputes are completely settled.
The Principal Bench, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, and Dr A Senthil Vel, Expert Member, has observed that the matter indicates a violation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
The Tribunal has impleaded the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Assam, and the District Commissioner, Kamrup (Metropolitan), as respondents in the matter.
The NGT has directed the respondents to file their responses/replies by way of affidavit before the Eastern Zonal Bench of the Tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing.
The NGT has transferred the original application to the Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata, for appropriate further action and listed the matter for hearing on January 21, 2025.