New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has sought response from government officials, including the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC), regarding the alleged loss of severe million hectare tree cover in the last two decades.
The NGT also sought a report of the Director of the Survey showing the status of forest cover since 2000, with specific reference to NORT East.
The tribunal was hearing a case where it had taken suo motu (on its cognizance of a newspaper report claiming loss of 2.33 million hectares of o tree cover in the States since 2000.
A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Srivastava said, “According to the article, data from Global Forest Watch (GFW) showed that five states account for 60 per cent of all tree cover loss between 2001 and 2023. "
“The maximum tree cover loss in Assam was 3,24,000 hectares compared to the average of 66,600 hectares."The bench, comprising judicial member Justice Aru Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, said, taking into account the newspaper report.
The bench said, "The news item quotes data from the Food and Agriculture Organization which shows that the deforestation rate in India was 6,68,000 hectares per year between 2015 and 2020, which is the highest worldwide "
It said the report raised a "substantial issue" regarding compliance wit environmental regulations, besides indicating violation of provisions of th Forest Conservation Act, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution and Pollution) Act, and th Environment Protection Act. .
In an order passed on Monday, the tribunal impeached as parties or respondent government officials including the MOEF&CCS Secretary, the Director of Survey of India and the Member Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Green Pen said, “Issue notice to the respondents to file their response.,
It said the Director's Survey of India is to "submit a report showing the status of forest cover in India, covering the period up to March 2024 with an interval of every five years after 2000 with specific reference to the North-Eastern fr Does."
The case has been posted for further proceedings on August 28.
The NGT also sought a report of the Director of the Survey showing the status of forest cover since 2000, with specific reference to NORT East.
The tribunal was hearing a case where it had taken suo motu (on its cognizance of a newspaper report claiming loss of 2.33 million hectares of o tree cover in the States since 2000.
A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Srivastava said, “According to the article, data from Global Forest Watch (GFW) showed that five states account for 60 per cent of all tree cover loss between 2001 and 2023. "
“The maximum tree cover loss in Assam was 3,24,000 hectares compared to the average of 66,600 hectares."The bench, comprising judicial member Justice Aru Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, said, taking into account the newspaper report.
The bench said, "The news item quotes data from the Food and Agriculture Organization which shows that the deforestation rate in India was 6,68,000 hectares per year between 2015 and 2020, which is the highest worldwide "
It said the report raised a "substantial issue" regarding compliance wit environmental regulations, besides indicating violation of provisions of th Forest Conservation Act, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution and Pollution) Act, and th Environment Protection Act. .
In an order passed on Monday, the tribunal impeached as parties or respondent government officials including the MOEF&CCS Secretary, the Director of Survey of India and the Member Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Green Pen said, “Issue notice to the respondents to file their response.,
It said the Director's Survey of India is to "submit a report showing the status of forest cover in India, covering the period up to March 2024 with an interval of every five years after 2000 with specific reference to the North-Eastern fr Does."
The case has been posted for further proceedings on August 28.
