Bhubaneswar, June 1: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered for constitution of a three-member committee to probe into the alleged felling of trees and permanent construction activity in the reserve forest areas in Odisha’s Nayagarh district.
“We deem it appropriate to constitute a Committee comprising of the District Magistrate, Nayagarh or his representative not below the rank of Additional District Magistrate, Divisional Forest Officer, Khordha or his representative not below the rank of Assistant Conservator of Forests, Senior Scientist, Odisha State Pollution Control Board”, the NGT said in its order on Thursday.
It has directed the committee to visit the site in question and submit its report on affidavit within four weeks.
The NGT order came in response to a petition filed by activist Akhand over alleged diversion of forest land.
The petitioner, seeking NGT’s intervention, had alleged that reserved forest land at Akhupadar revenue village of Ranapur Tehsil in Nayagarh district has been encroached illegally. A farm house building has been constructed here by felling trees.
The Government agencies like the agriculture and horticulture departments committed impropriety and extended fiscal assistance to the poultry and fish farming units that have come up at the reserve forest, the petition added.
