It is alleged that a road is being constructed within the sanctuary without the Centre’s approval
GUWAHATI: A significant environmental issue has been raised before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) with a petition filed under Section 14 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. The petition, known as the "Original Application," seeks urgent intervention to address the alleged environmental damage caused to the forests and Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Cachar district of Assam, due to illegal construction activities.
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The applicant has brought to light the ongoing illegal construction of a road leading to Bhuban Hill, located within the boundaries of the Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary. According to the complaint, the construction is a direct violation of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 and the guidelines issued by the central government on December 29, 2023. This road construction is claimed to have been undertaken without obtaining the required approvals from the central government, as mandated by law.
One of the primary respondents in this case, M.K. Yadava, who was previously the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force in Assam, has been accused of misusing his power to facilitate the illegal diversion of forest land. The petition accuses Yadava of signing a letter dated November 29, 2022, which led to the unauthorised construction. He is currently serving as the Special Chief Secretary in charge of forests.
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This is not the first time Yadava has been implicated in such cases. Two other Original Applications are already pending before the NGT’s Principal Bench in New Delhi. These cases allege that he was involved in the illegal diversion of protected forest land in two other areas of Assam -- a 44-hectare land in Barak Valley for a Commando Battalion Headquarters, and a 28-hectare land in the Geleky Reserve Forest near the Assam-Nagaland border.
The construction within the Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary is said to be causing irreversible environmental damage to a region that is home to many endangered species of flora and fauna. The petition stresses the urgency of halting the ongoing construction to prevent further degradation of the sanctuary's delicate ecological balance. The applicant also requests the formation of a committee to assess the full extent of the damage caused by these illegal activities.
The petition calls for an immediate stay on the illegal construction activities within the sanctuary, particularly the road leading to Bhuban Hill. It also seeks the creation of a committee to evaluate the extent of illegal diversions and to ensure that appropriate remedial actions are taken.