GUWAHATI, Oct 7 - The New Delhi-based Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently directed the Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) authorities to place on record complete documents to show as to how many trees they have cut and how many trees they have planted as afforestation in their extended township.
The NRL authorities have also been asked to state the mortality rate of the trees planted in their underconstruction extended township near the Deopahar Proposed Reserve Forest in Golaghat district.
The NGT order has come in connection with the main application (MA) number 787 of 2015 and main application number 1006 of 2015 in Application number 38 of 2011 (Rohit Choudhury Versus Union of India and Others).
The NGT has also directed the State to inspect and place on-record the inspection report. Besides, the State-Level Environment Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has also been directed by the NGT to take a final view in relation to the order passed by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and place the same on record before the Tribunal. The case is listed for hearing on October 13.
Meanwhile, Ritwick Dutta and Rahul Chouhdury, the advocates of applicant Rohit Choudhury, have contended in their reply affidavit that the construction of the boundary wall and golf course by the NRL is in violation of the July 5, 1998 notification that declared the areas adjoining Kaziranga National Park (KNP) as No Development Zone (NDZ).
Further, the construction of the boundary wall is also in violation of the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, they said.
The construction of the wall also interferes with the movement path of elephants and other wild animals, said the advocates of the applicant.
