National Green Tribunal Takes Action Against Forest Land Violation
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has initiated legal proceedings concerning the alleged illegal occupation of 10.09 acres of forest land in Sripura village, located in Odisha's Jharsuguda district. The eastern zone bench in Kolkata has issued formal notices to multiple authorities, including the secretary of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF&CC) and the chief secretary of Odisha.
Petition Reveals Serious Environmental Violations
The case originated from a petition filed by Saroj Kumar Patra, a local social worker, who accused a private company of occupying forest land categorized as gramya jungle kisam (village forest category) without obtaining mandatory statutory approvals under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The land was reportedly being used for the company's proposed integrated carbon complex project.
Represented by advocates Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy, the petition invoked specific sections of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. The legal team has sought several crucial directions from the tribunal, including:
- Immediate withdrawal of the environmental clearance letter dated March 6, 2024
- Restoration of the forest land to its original condition
- Eviction of the private company from the disputed plot
Multiple Authorities Under Scanner
The NGT bench, comprising Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Ishwar Singh, observed that the allegations raise substantial environmental questions under the NGT Act, 2010. Consequently, notices have also been dispatched to:
- Jharsuguda's district collector
- Tehsildar and divisional forest officer
- Member secretary of Odisha State Pollution Control Board
- Deputy director general of forests (integrated regional office, Bhubaneswar)
- The private company involved in the controversy
In the order dated October 31, the respondents have been granted one month to submit their replies with supporting documentation. The tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for January 8, 2026.
Allegations of Fraud and Environmental Damage
The petition contains serious allegations that the private company secured environmental clearance by suppressing crucial facts and providing false statements regarding the involvement of forest land. This action potentially violates the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
According to the petitioner, construction activities proceeded without obtaining mandatory approval from the central government under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act. The company allegedly used the encroached land for constructing approach roads, creating parking areas, and dumping industrial slag.
The petition further highlights that saplings planted by local villagers were destroyed during the illegal occupation. Additionally, the company failed to consult the Sripura gramsabha, thereby violating provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
Despite repeated complaints from villagers and the Sripura panchayat to the district magistrate, divisional forest officer, and the collector-cum-chairman of the district forest committee, no substantive action has been taken to address the encroachment or initiate appropriate legal proceedings.
