Pune: The state forest department has told the National Green Tribunal ( NGT ) that all recreational activities at its proposed eco-tourism park in Wanowrie will be stopped. “All completed works are related to removing gliricidia and planting tall plantations, water supply (water tank with supply from tanker), pathway, water storage tanks and pipeline along with borewell. The remaining works are not going to be undertaken.
We will refrain from creating any recreational activities in the said area,” Mahadev Mohite, deputy conservator of forests, Pune, said in an affidavit filed on July 20. The principal bench of NGT had taken cognisance of the alleged cutting of trees for the development of the park on the reserve forest land located on survey number 49 through an article, “Trees felled for eco park leaves behind barren land” published by TOI on January 12 this year. After the previous hearing held on May 22, Mohite had told TOI, “We will review the recreational plans.
We will study opinions received from people supporting and opposing the project and then proceed.” Local residents and applicants in the case on July 20 filed their objections to the forest department’s 10-year working plan and its effect on the Wanowrie park. The forest department, despite mentioning in their working plan that no permanent structures but only temporary structures made of forest materials would be allowed at sites of reserve forests, had been building concrete structures such as water tanks and sitting gazebos since February, the residents’ affidavit said.
It also said mature gliricidia had been rampantly felled without following guidelines or in small phases as mentioned by the department. The Wanowrie forest reserve area was home to a small woodland ecosystem, they said, adding felling of trees that harbour biodiversity was a clear violation of policy. We also published the following articles recently 68 schools with 3,000 students operating on forest land without clearance: Assam to NGT The Assam forest department acknowledged in an affidavit to the National Green Tribunal that 68 schools were set up illegally in the Charduar Reserve Forest and Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary.
The schools serve 3,000 students. A detailed plan for resettlement and rehabilitation is being prepared to address the issue without disrupting the children's education. Tied to tree, US woman found abandoned in Maharashtra forest amid rain In Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district, a 50-year-old American woman named Lalita Kayi was discovered chained to a tree, likely by her husband.
Found weak and with mental health prescriptions, she had been living in Tamil Nadu for a decade. Authorities have taken her to Goa Medical College Hospital, where she is now out of danger. State seeks time from HC to settle forest dwellers The Goa government requested an extension from the high court to settle the rights of forest dwellers after missing a court-imposed deadline.
The state faces a contempt petition over its failure to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve. The matter is scheduled for hearing in the Supreme Court on August 14..
