Disposed

News Item TitledSmugglers Are Emboldened and Illegal Cutting of Trees from the Forest But Responsible Are Silent Appearing in Lalluram.Com Dated 02.07.2024 v. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Chhattisgarh

NGT24 Oct 2024Original Application No. 189/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The Tribunal disposed of an original application lodged suo-motu regarding alleged illegal felling of Khair trees in Chhattisgarh. The respondent clarified that trees were cut from private village land, not forest land. The Tribunal directed the State to formulate a policy on commercial tree felling on private property before directing any further action, finding no immediate violation.

What did the court decide?

Direct the State Forest Department to take a policy decision on the felling of commercial trees on private property; no further action required by the Tribunal at present.

News Item TitledSmugglers Are Emboldened and Illegal… — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2024)

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Item No.10

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL CENTRAL ZONE BENCH, BHOPAL (Through Video Conferencing)

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Original Application No.189/2024(CZ) (O.A.No.882/2024 PB)

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News Item titled ^^rLdjksa ds gkSlys cqyan] taxy ls isM+ksa dh dj jgs voS/k dVkbZ] ftEesnkj

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ekSu** appearing in Lalluram.com dated 02.07.2024

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Suo moto…..

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Date of Hearing: 24.10.2024

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SHEO KUMAR SINGH, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON'BLE DR. A SENTHIL VEL,, EXPERT MEMBER

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For Applicant (s): None

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For Respondent(s) : Mr. Rohit Sharma, Adv. Mr. Siddharth Chouhan, Adv.

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ORDER

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This Original Application is registered suo-motu on the basis of the news item titled ^^rLdjksa ds gkSlys cqyan] taxy ls isM+ksa dh dj jgs voS/k dVkbZ] ftEesnkj ekSu** appearing in Lalluram.com dated 02.07.2024.

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The matter relates to the large scale illegal felling of Khair trees around Sundarpur village of the Balrampur district’s forest range Dhamni in Chhattisgarh. As per the article, the smugglers have stored more than 10 tractor loads of felled wood in the Sundarpur nursery. The article alleges that interstate wood smuggling gangs are quite active in Dhamani range, who illegally cut wood in the dark of night and store it in forest land. The forest and revenue departments have not taken any action on the said issue.

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News Item titled ^^rLdjks a ds gkSlys cqyan] taxy ls isM+ksa dh dj jgs voS/k d ftEesnkj ekSu** appearing in Lalluram.com dated 02.07.2024

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O.A.No. 189/2024(CZ)

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The above news item indicates violation of the provisions of The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

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The matter was taken up by this Tribunal and notices were issued to the respondent to visit the site and submit the factual and action taken report. Reply on behalf of the respondent nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5 have been filed.

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We have heard the Learned Counsel for the Respondent Mr. Rohit Sharma and examine the records. The contention of the Learned Counsel for the respondent Mr. Rohit Sharma are that :-

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i. “That on 02.07.2024 near Sundarpur Village in the Forest Compartment P872 approximately 200 logs of wood totalling to 11.235 Cubic meters were found dumped and the same were seized by the Forest Department on 02.07.2024. Immediately after the seizure of the logs in question a criminal case bearing POR (Preliminary Offense Report) number 20067/2024 was registered by the Forest Department through Bid Forrest Officer (BFO), Dungru.

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ii. That on detailed inquiry by the forest officials as well as the villagers residing nearby it was found that 25 Stumps (thoonth) of Khair Tree were felled from the lease hold properties of 12 Villagers and the said act was done by the accused Asgar Ansari, he details of the Stumps that were found to be missing from the lease hold properties of 12 Villagers are given in the Chart below:

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क्र_._	ग्रामीण ों का नाम_/_पता	प_.ह.न./खसरा नों._	ठ ोंठ ों का वििरण (ग लाई x ऊोंचाई से.मी.)	प्रजावत
_1. _	श्री गणेश पण्ड आ_._ महन पण्ड _, उम्र_30	14/243	1. 200x30 2. 150x30	खैर

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News Item titled ^^rLdjks a ds gkSlys cqyan] taxy ls isM+ksa dh dj jgs voS/k d ftEesnkj ekSu** appearing in Lalluram.com dated 02.07.2024

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O.A.No. 189/2024(CZ)

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	िर्ष_, जावत-पण्ड, सावकन-सुन्दरपुर,थाना- सनािल, तहसील- रामचन्द्रपुर, वजला- बलरामपुर-रामानुजगोंज (छ.ग.)_		3. 130x16
_2. _	श्री रामसाय आ_. रामप्रसाद,उम्र_58_िर्ष, जावत-ग ड़, सावकन- सुन्दरपुर, थाना- सनािल, तहसील- रामचन्द्रपुर, वजला- बलरामपुर-_रामानुजगोंज	14/216	4. 140x30 5. 150x18 6. 145x25	खैर
_3. _	श्री मानवसोंह आ_.ख रई, उम्र_40_िर्ष,जावत- ग ड़,सावकन-सुन्दरपुर, (जमुवनया पारा),थाना- सनािल, तहसील- रामचन्द्रपुर, वजला- बलरामपुर-रामानुजगोंज (छ.ग.)_	14/353	7. 180x20 8. 180x30	खैर
_4. _	श्री रामवसोंह आ_.ख रई, उम्र-52_ िर्ष_, जावत- ग ड़,सावकन-सुन्दरपुर, (बाबुपारा), थाना- सनािल, तहसील- रामचन्द्रपुर, वजला- बलरामपुर-रामानुजगोंज (छ.ग.)_	14/353	9. 154x25	खैर
_5. _	श्री रामिृक्ष आ_. वबशुनदयाल, उम्र-60_ िर्ष_, जावत-ग ड़, सावकन-सुन्दरपुर, (गयारीपारा), थाना- सनािल, तहसील- रामचन्द्रपुर, वजला- बलरामपुर-रामानुजगोंज (छ.ग.)_	14/38	10. 200x27 11. 172x30 12. 150x30	खैर
_6. _	श्री लौटन आ_. वबशुनदयाल, उम्र-56_ िर्ष_, जावत-ग ड़, सावकन-सुन्दरपुर, (गयारीपारा), थाना- सनािल, तहसील- रामचन्द्रपुर, वजला- बलरामपुर-_रामानुजगोंज	3 14/37	13. 190x38 14. 120x42	खैर

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News Item titled ^^rLdjks a ds gkSlys cqyan] taxy ls isM+ksa dh dj jgs voS/k d ftEesnkj ekSu** appearing in Lalluram.com dated 02.07.2024

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O.A.No. 189/2024(CZ)

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_7. _	(छ.ग.) श्री देिरूप आ_.बोंधु, उम्र-27_ िर्ष_, जावत- ग ड़,सावकन-सुन्दरपुर, थाना-सनािल,तहसील- रामचन्द्रपुर, वजला- बलरामपुर-रामानुजगोंज (छ.ग.)_	14/37	15. 150x17 16. 152x40	खैर
_8. _	श्री राजकुमार आ_.लल्लु यादि, उम्र-28_ िर्ष_, जावत-अहीर, सावकन- सुन्दरपुर, (गयारीपारा), थाना-सनािल,तहसील- रामचन्द्रपुर, वजला- बलरामपुर-रामानुजगोंज (छ.ग.)_	14/61	17. 170x20	खैर
_9. _	श्री गोंगालाल आ_.सम्पत, उम्र_60_िर्ष,जावत- ग ड़,सावकन-सुन्दरपुर, (गयारीपारा), थाना- सनािल, तहसील- रामचन्द्रपुर, वजला- बलरामपुर-रामानुजगोंज (छ.ग.)_	14/35	18. 142x32 19. 130x17 20. 140x32 21. 138x18	खैर
_10. _	श्री रामहुलास आ_. बासेदि,उम्र-30_िर्ष_, जावत-ग ड़, सावकन- वमनिाखाोंड, थाना- सनािल, तहसील- रामचन्द्रपुर, वजला- बलरामपुर-रामानुजगोंज (छ.ग.)_	14/74/2	22. 126x20	खैर
_11. _	श्री छ टेलाल आ_. रामदेि,उम्र_36_िर्ष, 14/74/2 22. 126x20_खैर जावत- क ईरी_, सावकन- वमनिाखाोंड (हरईयापारा) थाना- सनािल, तहसील- रामचन्द्रपुर, वजला- बलरामपुर-रामानुजगोंज (छ.ग.)_	14/72	23. 120x14 24. 106x19	खैर
_12. _	श्री अय ध्या कुशिाहा आ_.रामदेि उम्र-59_	14/52	25. 98x30	खैर

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News Item titled ^^rLdjks a ds gkSlys cqyan] taxy ls isM+ksa dh dj jgs voS/k d ftEesnkj ekSu** appearing in Lalluram.com dated 02.07.2024

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O.A.No. 189/2024(CZ)

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िर्ष , जावत - क ईरी , सावकन - वमनिाखाोंड ( हरईयापारा ) थाना - सनािल , तहसील - रामचन्द्रपुर , वजला - बलरामपुर - रामानुजगोंज ( छ . ग .)

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iii. In addition to the above, on the very same date, certain seizures were also made by the Revenue Halka Parwari No. 14 and as per the record, 16 Nags quantifying 1.383 cubic meters and 25 Nag quantifying 1.892 cubic meters of Peeled portion of tree khair was also seized by the Revenue Official and which was subsequently handed over to the forest department. Since these additional nags (Nag 16 and 25) were found at revenue land, therefore the Revenue Department had registered 3 revenue cases against the Accused Azgar Ansari bearing Case No. 202409270900003/A-62/2023-24, 202409270900004/A62/2023-24 and 202409270900005/A-62/2023-24.

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iv. That against the seizure of 200 nags quantifying 11.235 cubic meters of Khair Tree, at the compartment P872, the Forest Department, after registering the POR 20067/2024, hitiated actions against the Accused Azgar Ansari, 4/0 Sobrati, Aged 43 years, R/O Sundarpur, Police Station Sanawal, Tehsil Ramchandrapur, District Balrampur, under Section 9 (1) and 9 (2) of Adim Jan Jatiyon Ka Sanrakshan (Vrakshon ke Hit) Adhiniyam, 1999, Section 41 (3) of Indian Forest Act, 1927, Rule 3 of Madhya Pradesh Abhivahan Vanopaj Niyam, 2000, Section 5 (1) of Madhya Pradesh Vanopaj Vyapar Viniyaman Adhiniyam, 1969 and Section 3 (1) of Lok Sampatti Nuksan

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News Item titled ^^rLdjks a ds gkSlys cqyan] taxy ls isM+ksa dh dj jgs voS/k d ftEesnkj ekSu** appearing in Lalluram.com dated 02.07.2024

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O.A.No. 189/2024(CZ)

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Niwaran Adhiniyam, 1984. On basis of these provisions, the Accused was presented before the Ld. Judicial Magistrate Court, Ramanujganj and the matter is already subjudice before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Ramanujganj.

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v. That the entire issue of felling of Khair tree is w.r.t the cutting of these trees from the private lands belonging to the villagers situated in the revenue area. It is therefore clarified here that no cutting/ felling of Khair Tree has been done from the forest land and more particularly the forest area of Sundarpur and it was only the case that these Nags were found at the forest compartment area from where the seizure has been done in accordance with law.

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vi. A detailed report submitted by the Divisional Forest Officer, Balrampur, Division Balrampur, addressed to the Principle Head of Forest Force dated 09.09.2024.

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vii. The Divisional Forest Officer, Balrampur had. procured the entire information from the Forest Range Officer, Dhamni vide letter dated 07.09.2024.”

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It is further argued that no illegal cutting of the Kher trees has been done from the forest land farming part of the range Dhamni (C.G.) in an around village Sundarpur.

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It is further submitted that the task of felling of kher trees from the land belonging to villagers was in a way promoted by the villagers themselves in returned of some monitoring gains. In this regard the Forest Ranger Officer has issued certain directions to the Revenue Authorities.

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News Item titled ^^rLdjks a ds gkSlys cqyan] taxy ls isM+ksa dh dj jgs voS/k d ftEesnkj ekSu** appearing in Lalluram.com dated 02.07.2024

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O.A.No. 189/2024(CZ)

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Learned counsel has further submitted that the statement of the persons/agriculturist has been recorded by the officers concerned who have stated that these plantations were in their own agricultural land and after dry of the trees or felling and damage they sold it for consideration to the purchaser as it is their own property.

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Now the question is whether it amounts to any violation of environmental rules or laws. On this point learned counsel for the respondent has submitted that necessary policy is required to be framed by the forest department with regard to the trees of commercial nature which have been planted in own property with ownership and if the plantation is not promoted it could adversely affect the moto of the plantation by the private owners in their private property.

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Accordingly, we direct the state forest transport to take a policy decision on that point. At present, there are no violation, thus no further action is required to be taken by this Tribunal.

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With these observations Original Application No. 189/2024 stands disposed of.

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Sheo Kumar Singh, JM

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Dr. A Senthil Vel, EM

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24^th October 2024 O.A. No. 189/2024(CZ) . PN

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News Item titled ^^rLdjks a ds gkSlys cqyan] taxy ls isM+ksa dh dj jgs voS/k d ftEesnkj ekSu** appearing in Lalluram.com dated 02.07.2024

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O.A.No. 189/2024(CZ)

News Item TitledSmugglers Are Emboldened and Illegal Cutting of Trees from the Forest But Responsible Are Silent Appearing in Lalluram.Com Dated 02.07.2024 v. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Chhattisgarh

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

News Item TitledSmugglers Are Emboldened and Illegal Cutting of Trees from the Forest But Responsible Are Silent Appearing in Lalluram.Com Dated 02.07.2024 v. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Chhattisgarh

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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