The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of the matter relating to the inclusion of Neelkurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana), which blooms once in 12 years on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) official Red List of threatened species.
The petition is registered suo motu on the basis of the news item dated 10.08.2024.
As per the article, this is the first ever Global Red List assessment for this flagship species of the montane grasslands of southwest India. The article states that the latest global assessment confirms its threatened status in the Vulnerable (Criteria A2c) category of the IUCN.
The news item highlights that the mass blooming of the flower is a huge tourist attraction. The blooming was reported recently, though not in a vast spread, at Peerumade in Idukki, Kerala.
It states that Strobilanthes kunthiana is an endemic shrub of three-metre height, seen only in the high-altitude shola grassland ecosystems of five mountain landscapes of southwest India at an elevation of 1,340–2,600 m.
The news item states that Neelakurinji is threatened mainly due to its fragile habitat in the montane high altitude grasslands that has been under pressure of conversion for tea and softwood plantations, and urbanization. Moreover, almost 40% of the habitat has been lost and the remaining is under pressure from invasion of exotic species such as eucalyptus and black wattle. Infrastructure development, afforestation programmes and climate change also pose a threat to the Neelakurinji.
The news item further states that Neelakurinji has 34 subpopulations within 14 eco regions of the high-altitude mountain ranges of southwest India. There are 33 subpopulations in the Western Ghats and one in the Eastern Ghats. Most subpopulations are in the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu, followed by Munnar, Palani-Kodaikanal, and Anamalai mountains.
The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms, especially compliance of Biodiversity Act, 2002 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
“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 and Dr. A. Senthil Vel impleaded the following as respondents in the matter:
(1). Botanical Survey of India at Kolkata, through its Director.
(2). Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute at Kerala, through its Director.
(3). Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, through its Secretary.
The Bench issued notice to the Respondents and listed the matter on 28.11.2024.