NGT takes up suo moto case on forest cover loss in Manipur
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 10 2024:
The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi has taken up a suo moto case pertaining to claims of forest cover loss in Manipur on the basis of the news item titled "Some Mind-Boggling Data, says Manipur Chief Minister on Forest Cover Loss" appearing in NDTV on May 4, 2024.After taking up the case, the Tribunal named Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Integrated Regional Office, Shillong and Forest Survey of India, through its Regional Director (Eastern Zone), Regional Office, Kolkata as respondents and listed the matter for hearing on July 31, 2024.The Tribunal directed the relevant authority to issue notice to the respondents so as to ensure they (the respondents) file their response at least one week before the hearing.
The news item relates to the substantial decrease in forest area in Manipur.
As per the article, the forest cover in the State has been reduced from 17,475 sq km in 1987 to 16,598 sq km in 2021, which shows a decrease of 877 sq km of forest cover.
It further states that this has happened mainly due to deforestation and opium poppy cultivation.
The news item further refers to data from the Manipur Remote Sensing Applications Centre, which says that the area of opium poppy cultivation in Manipur has declined by 60 percent since 2021.Saying that the news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms, the Tribunal added that the power of NGT to take up the matter suo-motu has been recognized by the Supreme Court in the matter of "Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs Ankita Sinha & Ors." reported in 2021 .
The Principal Bench of the Tribunal is already considering the issue of loss of forest land across the country in another case.