NGT Orders Confidential Investigation into Rajasthan's Illegal Tree Felling Case
The National Green Tribunal bench in Bhopal took decisive action on Monday. It ordered the formation of a confidential team to independently examine serious allegations of widespread illegal tree felling and misappropriation of forest resources in Rajasthan. The bench directed this team to submit a detailed report. It also mandated that an "action taken report" must be filed within three weeks.
Substantial Financial Loss and Serious Allegations
A bench comprising judicial member Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Ishwar Singh made a significant observation. They remarked that the alleged violations caused a financial loss of more than Rs 131 lakh to the state exchequer. The Tribunal was hearing an application filed by petitioner Rajendra Tiwari and others.
The application presented grave accusations. It alleged that around 500 quintals of wood were illegally removed from approximately 674 bigha of reserved forest land. This area translates to about 10.7 hectares. The petitioners claimed that 10 to 15 JCB machines were used to uproot trees and level the forest land. They further stated that forest officials who attempted to intervene were threatened.
Officials Accused of Negligence and Complicity
The bench took specific note of allegations against two forest officers. Regional forest officer Prabhu Ram Dhun and assistant conservator of forests Payal Mathur were named. The allegations pointed to negligence and complicity.
It was alleged these officers permitted the illegal activity. They are also accused of actively participating in it. Later, they allegedly attempted to conceal evidence. The tribunal order provided a detailed account of their purported actions.
The order stated, "Both these officers not only permitted illegal uprooting of numbers of trees; rather, they actively participated in the entire tale of misappropriation of number of trees and reserved forest land." It continued, "Even in order to hide their wrong deeds, they prepared a Mauka Panchnama after 31 hours of the incident, and that too while sitting in their office." The order added, "Ms Payal Mathur gave false and fabricated statements in order to save herself and other culprits from the hands of the law."
Immediate Action and Future Proceedings
Petitioner Rajendra Tiwari confirmed the tribunal's directives. He said the tribunal has directed the principal chief conservator of forests to take immediate action against the delinquent officials. This instruction aims to ensure accountability.
The divisional forest officer of Bhilwara was impleaded as one of the respondents in the case. The respondents have been directed to file their replies within a period of six weeks. The matter is now listed for its next hearing on April 12. This date will mark the next step in this significant environmental case.
