GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has issued notices to the Central government, the Assam government, and 12 other parties regarding the de-notification of the Garbhanga Wildlife Sanctuary (GWS) on the outskirts of Guwahati.
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A bench comprising Justices Kalyan Rai Surana and Susmita Phukan Khaund issued the notices on Wednesday, December 11, while hearing two public interest litigations (PILs) filed by Rajeev Bhattacharya, Gaurav Choudhury, and Subrat Talukdar.
The PILs challenged the state government’s move to cancel the preliminary notification declaring approximately 117 sq km of forest in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district as GWS. The area, bordering Meghalaya and the Ramsar site of Deepor Beel, is known for its rich biodiversity, including elephants, birds, and reptiles.
Notices have also been issued to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Assam Chief Secretary, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), and senior forest officials, among others. The petitioners have alleged that the de-notification was influenced by a senior forest officer to facilitate mining activities.
They also highlighted concerns over illegal stone mining and the proposed railway track by NFR through the forest, which could harm its biodiversity. The petitioners termed the de-notification “capricious, unreasonable, and arbitrary” and emphasised the need to protect the area’s ecological integrity.
The initial notification, issued in March 2022, granted the area protected status. However, in September 2023, the Assam government had cancelled the preliminary notification without providing a clear justification.