Unauthorised deforestation around Nainital Lake: NGT issues notice to U’Khand govt

The tribunal heard the matter on November 24 and a copy of the order was made available on Thursday which was then sent to Uttarakhand from Delhi

Published on: Dec 1, 2022, 18:14:49 IST

By Neeraj Santoshi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) principal bench in New Delhi on Thursday issued notice to the Uttarakhand government and five other respondents for the alleged illegal felling of trees around the Nainital Lake area after a complaint letter.

The respondents have been directed to reply to the notices within one month.

NGT order to the Uttarakhand government stated that in view of the averments in the application and observations in the report of the joint committee, it considers it appropriate to have a response from the Uttarakhand government, forest department, urban development, divisional commissioner, Kumaon, principal chief conservator of forests and Nainital municipal corporation.

A letter petition was sent to NGT by one Vivek Verma stating that unauthorised felling of trees, belonging to endangered species, was being done adjacent to Nainital city leading to great damage to the forest area.

Also Read: Girls trapped in lift for 24 min in Ghaziabad high-rise; office bearers booked

The deforestation is leading to a loss of the catchment area of Naini Lake, the petition alleged.

The tribunal heard the matter on November 24 and a copy of the order was made available on Thursday which was then sent to Uttarakhand from Delhi.

The green panel’s order stated that on September 1 this year it had constituted a joint committee and directed it to submit a factual and action-taken report within two months. The report was sent to NGT on October 31.

Also Read: Class 12 student from Kerala dies at swimming pool in Bengaluru

“In view of the significant nature and impact of the environmental violations involved, the tribunal considers it appropriate to have assistance from senior advocates as amicus curie. Accordingly, the tribunal has appointed advocate Akash Vashishtha as amicus curie to assist in a just and fair adjudication of the questions involved,” the order further stated.

The matter has been listed for the next hearing on February 3, 2023.

Over the years, experts and many local people have expressed concerns over the fragile ecology of Nainital Lake and the forests in its catchment area.

The mango-shaped Nainital Lake surrounded by forested hills is situated at an elevation of 1938 metres.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neeraj Santoshi
Neeraj Santoshi is the Chief of Bureau for Hindustan Times in Uttarakhand, where he leads the state reporting team while covering government, politics, environment, wildlife, Uttarakhand High Court, and issues shaping the Himalayan region. With more than two decades in journalism across conflict zones, he has covered politically sensitive regions and environmentally fragile landscapes, and focused on stories that combine public interest with in-depth storytelling. An alumnus of Pune University with a Master’s in Communication Studies, he has reported extensively from Jammu & Kashmir (2003-2010), Madhya Pradesh (2010 to 2018 ) and Uttarakhand (Since 2018), covering subjects ranging from insurgency, elections and governance to wildlife conservation, mining, climate change, agriculture, human rights and social justice. He has covered politics and legislative assemblies of both Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh over more than a decade. Before taking over as Chief of Bureau in Uttarakhand, he served as Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times in Madhya Pradesh and earlier reported for both Hindustan Times and The Indian Express in Jammu & Kashmir, where he covered state politics, environment and insurgency-related developments. Over the years, his stories have focused on environmental degradation, wildlife, illegal mining, governance and the changing social fabric of Himalayan states and Central India. He is particularly interested in long-form explanatory journalism, and stories that explore the intersection of ecology, conservation, governance and society. Outside the newsroom, Neeraj enjoys reading widely on neuroscience, consciousness studies, Artificial Intelligence and quantum physics, with a special interest in Kashmiri Tantric Shaivist traditions. He is also passionate about wildlife, mountaineering and the Himalayas, interests that continue to inform his reporting and deepen his understanding of the region he covers.Read More

Home/Cities/Dehradun News/Unauthorised Deforestation Around Nainital Lake: NGT Issues Notice To U’Khand Govt