National Green Tribunal
News Item Titled "Hasdeo Mei Pedo Kee ... vs . Ankita Sinha & Ors." on 13 February, 2024
Item No. 02 Court No. 1
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI
Original Application No. 133/2024
News item titled "Hasdeo mei pedo kee katai TS Singhdev ne kaha -
CM Vishnudev Sai Khood Aadivasi jarur samjhenge jal jangal jameen
ka astitva" appearing in ETV Bharat.com dated 26.12.2023
Date of hearing: 13.02.2024
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON
HON'BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER
Respondent: Mr. Mahesh Kumar, Mr. Aniruddha Purushotham & Mr. Deepak Kapoor,
Advs. for R - 1
ORDER
1. This original application is registered suo motu on the basis of the news item titled "Hasdeo mei pedo kee katai TS Singhdev ne kaha - CM Vishnudev Sai Khood Aadivasi jarur samjhenge jal jangal jameen ka astitva" appearing in ETV Bharat.com dated 26.12.2023.
2. The news item discloses that the trees are being cut for Parsa East Kete Basan (PKEB) Project 2 and that a scheme has been prepared to cut about 9000 trees for coal mining on the forest area of 93 hectare and that the tree felling is in progress at Hariharpur, Salhi, Ghatbarra, Fatehpur, Basen and Parsa and the villagers are agitating against the felling of trees.
3. The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms.
4. Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu exercise of power has been recognized by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the matter of 1 "Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors." reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.
5. Hence, we implead the following as respondents in the matter:
i. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Chhattisgarh Forest Department.
ii. Chief Wildlife Warden, Chhattisgarh Forest Department. iii. Collector and District Magistrate, Hasdeo, Korba.
6. Learned Counsel appearing for Respondent No. 1 has informed that another Original Application being OA No. 59/2024 is pending before the Tribunal on the same issue.
7. Issue notice to Respondents No. 2 and 3 for filing their response at least one week before the next date of hearing.
8. List the present OA along with OA No. 59/2024 on 21.03.2024.
Prakash Shrivastava, CP Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM February 13, 2024 Original Application No. 133/2024 DV.
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