The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has warned the Assam government of serious consequences if any unauthorised construction takes place on the disputed land during the pendency of the case.
The warning came during a hearing by the tribunal on Thursday concerning alleged illegal diversion of protected forest land in Assam’s Hailakandi district for the establishment of a Commando Battalion headquarters.
The case originated from two applications — a petition filed by the NGT itself and an intervention application filed by an Assam resident.
Both applications express concern over the legality of clearing protected forest land in Hailakandi district for the construction of the Assam Commando Battalion Unit headquarters.
The NGT took suo moto cognizance of the complaints and cautioned the government to halt further construction on the site.
The applicant and intervenor allege that the Assam government bypassed mandatory procedures under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, for this project located within an Inner Line Reserved Forest.
Assam’s then PCCF, in an affidavit filed at NGT, had claimed that the Reserve Forest land in question would be solely used for erecting temporary shelters for the Commando Battalion.
The NGT noted that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had sought additional information from the state government but hadn’t received it yet.
The state claims to have already submitted the information and has filed an affidavit to that effect.
The MoEF&CC informed the tribunal that it would file its own affidavit within two weeks, clarifying its position on the project.
The NGT also acknowledged the intervention application which argues that construction on the forest land is already underway.
Google Earth images accessed reveal substantial concrete structures being built after clearing the Reserve Forest and performing hill cutting in the area.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for April 23, 2024.
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