NGT takes suo motu cognisance of 'reckless, unscientific' cutting of hills and trees in Himachal Pradesh

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently took suo motu cognisance of the reckless and unscientific cutting of hills and trees near Saurabh Van Vihar on the outskirts of Palampur in Himachal Pradesh. .The case was initiated based on an article published in The Tribune revealing that hills were being cut with the help of heavy machines in a hilly area near Saurabh Van Vihar..A bench of then Chairperson and judicial member, Justice Sheo Kumar Singh, judicial member, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, and expert member, Professor A Senthil Veil noted that the cutting was being undertaken by a private party engaged in constructing a hotel or a resort without any authority from the State Pollution Control Board (PCB).."The report reveals that cutting of hills with the help of JCB machines was being undertaken in the hilly area near Saurabh Van Vihar by private party engaged in constructing a hotel or a resort without any authority from the State PCB or the authorities concerned. The activities and cutting of hills and trees had played havoc with nature which could result in a landslide in the area," the NGT order said..The report additionally highlighted that debris had been disposed of within the forested area. Furthermore, the entire area had not been properly demarcated, leading to encroachment upon forest land. The NGT was also informed that there were construction activities on hill slopes with gradients exceeding 45 degrees. Such constructions were undertaken, even though they had been prohibited in Himachal Pradesh, the NGT noted. .The tribunal determined that a substantial environmental issue had been raised. However, the counsel for certain respondents contended that the task of identifying and demarcating the land had already been taken up by the District Magistrate. They also requested some time to file a reply. In light of this, the tribunal granted the respondents time till October 18, the next date of hearing, to file a reply..The NGT also called for a report from a committee consisting of the Collector as well as the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Palampur and a representative from the Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board.The committee has been directed to visit the place and submit the factual and action-taken report within six weeks. The State Pollution Control Board will be the nodal agency for coordination and logistical support, the tribunal added..[Read Order]