Alfaaz – The Words Desk
Srinagar: Taking note of a report ‘disclosing illegal felling of trees and illegal earth cutting’ vis-à-vis the case concerning construction of Handwara-Bangus Road project, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently sought a report from the Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) within a period of five weeks.
The NGT Coram headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, and Dr. A. Senthil Vel, Expert Member, have been hearing to adjudicate the matter titled Rasikh Rasool Bhat versus Govt. of J&K & Ors, filed by Adv. Rasikh Rasool Bhat.
In a hearing last week, the Tribunal taking note of a report submitted on behalf of the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, Government of J&K, referring to the report of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), which, it said, “discloses illegal felling of trees and illegal earth cutting.”
Besides this, the DoFE&E have maintained that illegal earth cuttings at six locations in Compartment 25/Rajwar of 0.35 Hectares (7 Kanals) had taken place, which has been taken cognizance of and an FIR number 239/2023 dated 25.10.2023 stands registered in this regard.
The NGT’s Principal Bench subsequently directed the applicant to include the Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) through its Member Secretary and serve the newly added respondent a notice within 10 days.
“The newly added respondent will file the report within a period of five weeks covering all points, including the issue of grant of environmental clearance, extraction of gravel, cutting/damaging the trees, and causing other environmental violations in the execution of the project,” stated the Tribunal, in its order.
Additionally, the Counsel representing the Forest Department, J&K, informed the Tribunal that a further report reflecting the status of environmental clearance and extraction of gravel will be filed within four weeks.
“The report on behalf of the Geology and Mining Department, Kupwara, has been filed, but no material has been disclosed in that report,” added the bench in its order.
It was asserted by the Applicant that 25,000 trees were cut/uprooted and due to unabated and unchecked mining a bridge collapsed at Bakiaker Rajwar – even as several other bridges are also facing an imminent threat due to continuous erosion of soil from beneath.
Notably, the Case filed by Adv. Rasikh Rasool Bhat maintains that there have been violations in respect to the environmental norms and the extraction of gravel from the stream of local Talri Nallah at village Chalpor of Rajwar forest area of Kupwara in the execution of the work on Handwara-Bangus road project.
The Applicant has alleged that authorities have allowed extraction of gravel from local streams and lush green forest trees have been cut/uprooted and big mountains have been blasted and that there is no information available in respect of the environmental clearance. “More than 14 hectares of forest land is being used to construct the road,” alleges the Applicant.
The Tribunal has listed the case on 7 August, 2024 for next hearing.
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