Guwahati, Feb 8: The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that the Assam government has not submitted any proposal seeking approval to divert forest land inside the Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary for road construction.
In an affidavit filed with the NGT, Laetitia Jean Syiemiong, Deputy Inspector General of Forest (Central), stated that no request under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, has been received for constructing a road to Bhuban Hills within the sanctuary.
On September 19, 2024, the Eastern Zone Bench of the NGT, comprising Judicial Member B. Amit Sthalekar and Expert Member Arun Kumar Verma, imposed a stay on the road construction project in response to a petition by Rajasthan resident Pradeep Singh Shekhawat. The petition alleged the illegal diversion of 15 hectares of forest land for the project.
In its interim order, the Tribunal stated: “Considering the allegations made, we direct that unless and until there is sanction from the Central Government under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, no construction shall be permitted within the Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary during the pendency of the case.”
The petitioner accused M.K. Yadava, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) in Assam, of authorizing the project without obtaining necessary Central government approvals. According to the petition, Yadava issued a directive in November 2022 permitting the Public Works Department (PWD) to proceed with construction.
Despite retiring in February 2024, Yadava was reappointed as Special Chief Secretary (Forest) by the Assam government. His alleged involvement in the case has intensified legal scrutiny over environmental violations during his tenure.
The petition claimed that Yadava’s actions violated the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, which mandates prior approval from the MoEFCC for forest land diversion for non-forestry purposes.
The NGT held Yadava personally liable, citing Sections 3A and 3B of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, which prescribe punitive measures for government officials guilty of forest law violations.
In a strongly worded directive, the Tribunal ordered that Yadava and other responsible officials be held personally accountable for the damage to the forest and directed them to compensate for ecological losses. The bench emphasized the need for punitive action against Yadava and other Assam Forest Department officials under forest conservation laws.
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