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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on November 20, 2024
Daily Insights and Initiatives for UPSC Exam Notes: Comprehensive explanations and high-quality material provided regularly for students
For Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
For Mains Examination: GS II & III - Governance, Environment & Ecology
Context:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) August 21, 2024 directed the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to submit an affidavit detailing its position on extensive encroachment of forest land in Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Sonitpur district of Assam, which has been ongoing for years
Read about:
What is National Green Tribunal (NGT)?
What are the Important Landmark Judgements of NGT?
Key takeaways:
- On August 21, 2024, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) instructed the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to provide an affidavit outlining its stance on the extensive forest land encroachment in Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, which has been ongoing for several years.
- This affidavit should address the findings reported by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Assam, on July 15, 2024. Additionally, the NGT's eastern zone bench directed the Chief Secretary of Assam to resubmit a corrected affidavit within four weeks, as the previous one was deemed defective.
- The affidavit from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest revealed that approximately 300,000 individuals have encroached upon the sanctuary, clearing lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, and establishing permanent structures and agricultural activities, including the cultivation of commercial crops such as betel nut, coconut, rubber, and tea. It also highlighted that around 23,028 claims have been made under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, in Charduar Reserve Forest, Balipara Reserve Forest, and Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary.
- The report included a chart showing that about 50,241 hectares of the total 73,524.86 hectares of reserve and protected forest land are currently encroached upon.
- On August 22, 2024, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Renukoot, Sonbhadra, filed an affidavit in response to an NGT order from May 10, 2024, regarding ongoing surveillance of the Dongia reservoir reserve forest area in Pipri, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. This surveillance aims to prevent illegal activities in the region.
- The affidavit addressed the issue of unlawful encroachments and tree felling in the reserve forest, which threatens the forest, wildlife, and aquatic animals. The report detailed that illegal activities were being conducted by the Chairman, Digvijay Pratap Singh, the executive officer of Nagar Panchayat Pipri, and their associates.
- The affidavit also noted the presence of diverse wildlife in the reserve forest, such as deer, leopards, and peacocks, and crocodiles in the reservoir. The DFO’s report confirmed that illegal activities were being carried out by various individuals, including Pradeep Kumar Singh, Vijay Bahadur Singh, and Anil Kumar. The forest department has taken strict action, halted illegal road extension work, and addressed issues related to illegal tree cutting, installation of iron sheets and gates, and encroachments