The Assam government has removed five roads for the disabled, 38 government schools approved by the Sarva Shiksha Abhijan (SSA) Mission, amid calls and calls for the eviction of encroachers from the protected forests in the state. and constructed 38 polling stations within the Sunai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary.
This was revealed in an affidavit filed by the Assam government before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on May 2.
The affidavit speaks of the sacred promise of the Assam government regarding green budgeting and environmental protection.
In addition to this, the state government has issued land pattas to more than 1,300 encroachers out of 40,000 people settled in Sunai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary, in violation of all official norms.
All this took place at the doorstep of former Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Mahendra Kumar Yadava, who is currently Special Chief Secretary (Forests) in the Assam government.
These schools have been approved by the then Additional Deputy Commissioner Prak Kumar Mahanta and used as polling stations in 2016-17.
The NGT took up the case on the basis of a petition filed by RTI activist and Aranya Suraksha Samiti Dilip Nath president on September 23, 2023.
In their order, Judicial Commissioner Justice Amit Sthalekar and Expert Commissioner Arun Kumar Verma ordered the Chief Secretary of Assam to carry out such large-scale construction in gross violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. It directed them to file an affidavit giving details of the authorizing officer.
“The affidavit must also explain the inaction of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) who has allowed such illegal activities to take place in its presence since 2017,” the NGT said in its order.
In his petition, Mr. Dilip Nath alleged gross violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Assam Forest Conservation Military Act, 1986. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (recognized) under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and Article 21 of the Constitution of India at Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary (SRWS) in Sonitpur district, Assam.
Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, Sonai Rupai was declared a wildlife sanctuary on October 12, 1998.
This sanctuary was once famous for the Bongsun tree (Phoebe hinesiana), which is now rarely seen in this sanctuary.
“But its former glory is no more. More than 40,000 people have settled in the wildlife sanctuary. After the BJP-led government came to power, it removed several forest villages to allot land to families. It was created and led by state minister Ashok Singhal and Bodoland Territory (BTR) chief secretary Pramod Boro,” Nath said.
Singhal represents Dhekiajuli constituency, under which Batachipur falls.
The government said the land allocation was done in accordance with the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, ignoring all official norms.
According to official records, 85 square kilometers of the wildlife sanctuary's area of 220 square kilometers have been encroached upon. The greenery of wildlife sanctuaries is rapidly decreasing due to large-scale encroachment.
“Because these are all encroachers and not traditional forest dwellers. The forest department has launched seven eviction drives to evict these people from the wildlife sanctuary,” Nath said. He also stated.
“There are only 14 certified forest villages in Songpitpur district. How can new forest villages be created? “I live in the country,” Nath said.
Mr. Nath claimed that large-scale construction activities were being carried out in the wildlife sanctuary and it was now turned into a human settlement.
“With the forest in the hands of encroachers, the entire Sonitpur district and the north bank of the Brahmaputra river will have to bear the brunt of the human-elephant conflict,” Nath further asserted.
In response to the NGT order, the state government informed the NGT bench that some government schools are functioning within the SRWS and Chardua Reserved Forest (CRF).
The government said FIRs were registered against the school management committees (SMCs) of these schools by local forest officials.
The affidavit also admitted that the Irrigation Department had constructed sluice gates on the Sironi River within the CRF in violation of regulations. The affidavit added that there are also individuals who have started tea gardens within the WLS.
Further, a contractor is constructing a 5 km long road within the SRWS in violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and Forest (Conservation) Act and an FIR has been registered against him.
The affidavit states that several polling stations under Dekijuri, Suotea and Rangapara assembly seats will also be set up within forest areas and the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department will set up ringwells within the same wildlife sanctuary. It is said that it did.
In its order, the NGT said that although the affidavit details illegal activities within wildlife sanctuaries and forest reserves, It was pointed out that there was no mention of measures taken.
“For reasons best known to the Joint Secretary who filed the affidavit, it is not disclosed whether the deforestation and forest restoration were carried out or not,” the order said.
The NGT also directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to submit a counter-affidavit within four weeks mentioning action against the officials who allowed illegal constructions and steps for removal.
The NGT is scheduled to hear the case on July 3.
