HC bans excavation of forest land
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 12 2018:
The High Court of Manipur passed an order on July 25 completely prohibiting and banning all forms of excavation from the forest area of the State irrespective of location.
A press release issued by Safe Environment Campaign Committee, today, stated that the order was passed by the Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice Kh Nobin Singh in connection with the PIL filed by the chairman of the committee M Inaobi Singh in August last year.
It also added that Senior Advocate HS Paonam and his junior S Gunabanta appeared on behalf of the petitioner of the case.
The order passed by the Court instructed the Forest and Environment Department to strictly monitor all projects implemented in the forest areas of the State by taking the details of the quantity of sand, boulders and soil etc excavated and royalty paid by the user agencies/subcontractors.
The order further instructed the Department to submit the details of such reports to the Auditor General and also to make periodical check at the project sites so that agencies/contractors do not excavate soil in excess of the quantity specified.
The committee stressed on the importance of the judgement as the High Court has made it mandatory to incorporate the said conditions to be a part of the clearance when permission is granted to an agency by the Department in addition to the already existing conditions.
It further mentioned that the High Court order will not only check the decades old practice of excavation of hill soil, sand and boulders from the forest area but also help the State Government to collect royalty regularly apart from helping the stakeholders in conserving the forest areas.
The committee also urged the State Government and the Central Government to take up necessary measures to translate the orders into action and warned that the committee will not tolerate any negligence or delay on part of the Government while complying with the order.