NGT directs state to demarcate forest lands

Mangalore Today News Network

Nov 18, 2016: Addressing media on Nov 17,  Thursday, former MLA and Netravathi Samyukta Samithi President Vijaykumar Shetty said NGT, National Green Tribunal  Chennai bench, has ordered the state government demark deemed and forest lands in the state.  The NGT bench, headed by NGT Chairman Justice Swatantra Kumar, issued order in connection with a petition filed by Purushottam Chitrapur of the committee when it took up the hearing on November 11.

On behalf of the applicant, senior advocate M C Mehta said the implementation of Yettinahole project will adversely affect the Western Ghats. Also, it results in the drying up of River Netravathi, he contended.  To provide a detailed information on this aspect, the bench adjourned the next nearing to December 2.

Shetty said the NGT, in its order dated February 15, 2016, had said that the state government should physically carry out the demarcation of the land within three months. It should also check as to which activities can been carried out in the land under Forest Conservation Act 1980.The bench has ordered the Union Environment and Forest Ministry to issue a notification under Environment Conservation Act 1986. The states, which have not filed objections to the draft notification, should file their objections before two months from the date of the order.

The ministry should write to the chief secretaries of all the state governments informing them about the order in a week.  The secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Forest should form a committee comprising representatives from both the Union and the state governments, conduct a study and submit a report to the NGT on the carrying capacity of Western Ghats with respect to the proposed projects carried out.  Irrigation expert S G Mayya and Purushottam Chitrapur were present.