Disposed

News Item Titled "Villagers Seek Halt on Illegal Road Construction Appearing in the Arunachal Times Dated 22.04.2025" vs

NGT6 May 2025Original Application No. 220/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Original Application No. 220/2025 registered suo motu based on news report alleging illegal road construction in Arunachal Pradesh violating forest and environmental laws. Bench impleaded officials as respondents, issued notice, and transferred matter to Eastern Zonal Bench.

What did the court decide?

Notice issued to respondents; application transferred to Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata for hearing on 21.07.2025.

News Item Titled "Villagers Seek Halt on Illegal Road… — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2025)

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Item No. 07

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Court No. 1

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI

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Original Application No.220/2025

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News Item titled "Villagers seek halt on illegal road construction appearing in The Arunachal Times dated 22.04.2025".

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Date of hearing: 06.05.2025

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON HON’BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER HON’BLE DR. AFROZ AHMAD, EXPERT MEMBER

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ORDER

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This original application is registered suo-moto based on the news item titled “Villagers seek halt on illegal road construction" appearing in the Arunachal Times dated 22.04.2025.

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The news item relates to the ongoing illegal road construction activities in the sensitive catchment areas from Ganga to Taipu and from Ganga to Tago in Papum Pare district, Arunachal Pradesh. As per the news item despite repeated complaints, unauthorized earth-cutting and road building continue, threatening the ecological balance and contaminating water sources.

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As per the news item, this unchecked development is posing a serious threat to the region's ecological balance and has already caused visible damage to the forest areas. Further, the news item states that the natural water sources have been contaminated due to these activities, forcing villagers to rely on muddy and unsafe water for daily use. This, as per the news item, is exposing the local community to significant health risks. Moreover, the news item highlights that despite multiple complaints to the RFO, no action has been taken to date.

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Further, the news item states that according to the Village Forest

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Committee, heavy machinery continues to operate in the Tago area in violation of forest regulations. The news item also mentions that a formal representation regarding these concerns was submitted to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh on April 14, seeking immediate intervention.

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The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance of provisions of Forest Conservation Act 1980, Environment Protection Act 1986, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974.

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The power of the Tribunal to take up the matter suo-motu has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha &Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897 .

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Hence, we implead the following as respondents in the matter:

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(i) Respondent no.1- Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Arunachal Pradesh, Department of Environment & Forests Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar, (Arunachal Pradesh)-791111;

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(ii) Respondent no.2- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) - Regional Office, Shillong, Law-U-Sib, Lumbatngen, Near MTC Workshop, Shillong;

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(iii) Respondent no.3-Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board(APSPCB), through its Member Secretary, Paryavaran Bhawan Yupia Road, Papu Nalah, Naharlagun, 791110;

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(iv) Respondent no.4-District Magistrate (DM), Papum Pare, O/o Deputy Commissioner, Yupia, Papum Pare District Arunachal Pradesh.

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Let notice be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply

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by way of affidavit before the concerned Bench of the Tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing. If any respondent directly files the reply without routing it through his advocate, then the said respondent will remain virtually present to assist the Tribunal.

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As the matter relates to State of Arunachal Pradesh and is within jurisdiction of Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata, therefore it is transferred to Eastern Zonal Bench. Registry is directed to transmit record of this original application to Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata for further proceedings.

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List before Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata on 21.07.2025.

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Prakash Shrivastava, CP

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Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM

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Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM

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May 06, 2025 Original Application No.220/2025 JG..

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News Item Titled "Villagers Seek Halt on Illegal Road Construction Appearing in the Arunachal Times Dated 22.04.2025" vs

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

News Item Titled "Villagers Seek Halt on Illegal Road Construction Appearing in the Arunachal Times Dated 22.04.2025" vs

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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