The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of a news item relating to the loss of 2.33 million hectares of tree cover in India since 2000, equivalent to a six percent decrease in tree cover during this period.
According to the article, the Global Forest Watch, which tracks forest changes in near real-time using satellite data and other sources, reported that the country lost 4,14,000 hectares of humid primary forest from 2002 to 2023, making up 18 percent of its total tree cover loss in the same period.
The NGT has impleaded 36 respondents, including the Central Pollution Control Board, the Ministry of Environment and Forest, and all states and union territories. The Tribunal has directed the respondents to submit their responses/replies by way of affidavit within one month from the date of receipt of notice.
The NGT’s order highlights the importance of addressing environmental issues and ensuring compliance with environmental norms and regulations. The matter raises substantial issues relating to compliance with the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
The Principal Bench comprising Justice Sudhir Agarwal as Judicial Members and Dr Afroz Ahmad has also directed the Forest Survey of India to submit a report showing the position of forest cover in India with specific reference to the North East from the year 2000 onwards with each five-year interval covering the period up to March 2024.
The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for January 9, 2025.
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