New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a four-member committee to conduct an inspection into the allegations of forest land grabbing by a private company in Keonjhar district.
The bench of NGT comprising Justice SP Wangadi, Justice K Ramakrishanan and expert member Dr Nagin Nanda heard a petition filed in the tribunal stating that a private company has been using 306.670 decimals of land, most of which are forest land that fall under Kisam Gramya Jungle, for non-forest activities without obtaining clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
“Considering the facts and circumstances set out in the application, we are satisfied that substantial questions relating to environment arises in the case,” the bench observed.
The tribunal has constituted a committee comprising Keonjhar District Collector and Divisional Forest Officer, Secretary of State Pollution Control Board and a senior representative from the Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Bhubaneswar.
The bench further stated that the nodal agency shall be the Department of Forest, Government of Odisha, which shall coordinate with rest of the members and also provide logistic support.
The tribunal has directed the committee to visit and inspect the area in question and, verify the factual aspects with reference to the revenue records and the physical position obtained at the spot.
“The entire exercise should be completed within a period of one month,” the bench observed. The matter has been listed for hearing May 28.