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State Government had another blow on the
issue of Forest/Private Forest. Now, from
the Supreme Court’s Central Empowerment
Committee. CEC has instructed the State
Government to submit details of all such
land/survey number of Private Forest, which
have been cleared, without informing the
Court after June 2005. During the hearing,
CEC also commented, “State Govt. should have
refrained/avoided releasing Private Forest
land when the hearing in Supreme Court is
going on. Any such piece of land, if it is
to be released, can be done only after the
judicial process is completed. It has to
pass through FCA and other procedure.
It may be noted that CEC and Supreme Court
have passed strictures on Govt. of
Maharashtra in another similar matter of
Khandwa, Pune, recommended action against
Forest Officers and also called for
explanation from the Ministers.
The Central Empowerment Committee has
completed its hearing is now scheduled to
visit Mumbai on 29th December.
CEC is likely to submit its report in
January 2009.
CEC has accepted the request of Dr. Kirit
Somaiya and the Residents’ Association and
confirmed their opinion :
i) Provide relief at one stroke to 4.5
lac residents of 67,000 families of Mumbai
staying there prior
to June 2005.
ii) Relief to Adivasis/farmers to
continue agricultural or such activity of
their
livelihood.
CEC has issued directives :
1.
Dr. Kirit Somaiya to file an
affidavit giving details about the violation
of guidelines and Court directives and
releasing Forest/Private Forest by State
Govt. subsequent to June 2005.
2.
State Govt. to file an
affidavit/details of :
i) List of properties/land where
Forest/Private Forest entry withdrawn
ii) List of properties/land
where stop work order withdrawn
iii) Occupation Certificate given
in spite of Stop Work Order
iii) N.A. Certificate given
for the Survey Numbers/land which have been
declared
as Forest/ Private Forest after June 2005
iv) Contradictory NOC/letters
given by Forest Conservator, Sanjay Gandhi
Rashtriya Udyan and Thane. |
