Latest news with #DebadityoSinha
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Odisha plans to ease forest, wildlife restrictions to boost tourism; experts call it dangerous
The Odisha government is seeking to ease environmental restrictions to promote tourism inside and around some of its most ecologically sensitive regions, including national parks, tiger reserves, coastal zones and Ramsar wetlands, according to government records. Legal and conservation experts say this move undermines forest, wildlife and biodiversity laws and tribal rights. According to minutes of a high-level meeting chaired by the Odisha Chief Secretary on May 30, the State plans to revisit and amend Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) notifications to remove clauses prohibiting construction and commercial activities. It also plans to request the Centre to allow forest land to be used for non-site-specific purposes such as hospitality infrastructure and to re-examine Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) classifications to accommodate more tourism projects along the coast. ESZs are buffer areas created around protected forests, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks to protect wildlife and biodiversity from harmful human activities such as mining, construction and polluting industries. Activities like farming, eco-tourism and the use of renewable energy are usually allowed with restrictions. The minutes note that the current "no commercial/no construction" clause in ESZ notifications "does not accurately reflect the enabling spirit" of the 2011 guidelines issued by the Centre. "ESZs notified/to be notified should be discussed with the Department of Tourism (DoT) and the tourism master plan should be taken into consideration," the MoM read. The State has decided to set up an empowered committee under the chairpersonship of the additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Environment Department, with the commissioner-cum-secretary, DoT; PCCF and HoFF; PCCF (Wildlife); director, environment; CEO, Chilika Development Authority; field directors of Satkosia, Bhitarkanika and Similipal; director, Nandankanan Zoo; managing director, IDCO; chief engineer, building; managing director, Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation as members and the director, Tourism, as the member convener. However, independent ecologists, wildlife scientists or tribal representatives are absent from the panel. The committee will meet every two months to discuss issues relating to tourism projects vis-a-vis forest clearance and ESZs. Experts say Odisha's move could allow economic interests to shape regulatory frameworks meant for ecological protection and mark a dangerous departure from India's legal and ecological commitments. "The State is the constitutional trustee of forests and wildlife, with a mandate to safeguard these natural assets," Debadityo Sinha, Lead - Climate & Ecosystems at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, said. "A directive that requires states to merely 'take into consideration' the tourism master plan while notifying Eco-Sensitive Zones raises serious concerns. It implies that economic interests may override ecological imperatives," he said. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 prohibits commercial construction inside national parks and sanctuaries unless it directly supports conservation or is part of approved low-impact tourism. Forest land diversion for non-site-specific purposes such as resorts would require forest clearance under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, and the consent of local Gram Sabhas under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. The State's proposal to remove ESZ construction restrictions is also at odds with the June 2022 directions of the Supreme Court mandating a minimum one-kilometre buffer around all protected areas to safeguard wildlife habitats. Mr. Sinha said the State's plan also contradicts the National Forest Policy, 1988, which clearly states that the derivation of direct economic benefit must be subordinate to environmental stability and the maintenance of ecological balance. "The push to expand tourism infrastructure and create exemptions for commercial activities is at odds with the spirit of the National Forest Policy, 1988," he said. "It also undermines the very rationale for notifying ESZs which is to function as shock absorbers around sanctuaries and national parks and protect ecological corridors among them." The State has also asked the Odisha Coastal Zone Management Authority to re-examine CRZ classifications to support tourism in areas having "extremely high potential". However, the minutes do not mention carrying capacity assessments, environmental impact studies or consultations with wetland authorities requirements especially critical in internationally recognised sites like Chilika Lake, a designated Ramsar wetland. "The same principle applies to CRZs for coastal areas and Ramsar sites for wetlands, where the focus should remain on ecological preservation," Mr. Sinha said. "There appears to be no discussion on ecological assessments such as carrying capacity studies, strategic environmental impact assessments or any scientific evaluation of the consequences of tourism activities on natural ecosystems and wildlife." "Such vague and arbitrary administrative directions not only violate statutory mandates under forest and wildlife laws, but also risk setting a dangerous precedent. They jeopardise Odisha's rich biodiversity and undermine both national and international obligations,' Mr. Sinha added.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Even as SC hears case, road from Haryana to Rajasthan for illegal mining rebuilt
Gurgaon: Between Supreme Court hearings and five months after the Haryana forest department razed it, an illegal road connecting Basai Meo in Nuh to Gadhaner in Rajasthan was rebuilt by miners. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It was this 6km road, originally built in Oct 2024, that led the miners through the Aravali forests to a hillock in Nuh's Rava. TOI reported in Dec last year that the Rava hillock was blasted into pieces and the stones were then transported across state borders through the same road. The matter of illegal mining and construction of the road eventually reached the Supreme Court, which pulled up Haryana's chief secretary last month for failing to act against those violating environmental laws in the state. On Monday, the forest department blocked the road once again. "This is the same road that was illegally built last year under the pretext of village land consolidation," a forest official said, adding: "We have now blocked it again and filed an FIR against two villagers involved in its reconstruction. We have increased surveillance as well." The area where the road was built falls under sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), which prohibits any construction in forests. It also violates Section 2 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, which bars construction in protected forests without approval of the central govt. The forest department official told TOI no such permissions were obtained. Experts said the road being carved through the Aravalis for a second time despite an ongoing case in the Supreme Court shows the impunity with which mining is carried out in the area. "The fact that a road is being carved through protected forest land while the matter is sub judice reflects blatant disregard for the rule of law. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It underscores a systemic failure in enforcement and a culture of impunity that emboldens violators. If such violations can occur under the court's watch, one can only imagine the unchecked damage happening elsewhere," said Debadityo Sinha, lead (climate and ecosystems) at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. The matter first came to light in Oct 2024, when Basai Meo residents alleged that the road was illegally constructed on forest and farm lands, disrupting natural drainage system of the area. A month later, villagers filed a petition before SC, alleging that the road was built by mining mafia "in collusion" with officials. On the night of Dec 19, miners flattened the hillock in Rava, just 10km from Basai Meo. Locals said they had heard the blast and some eyewitnesses captured videos of it. TOI also reported about the incident on Dec 23. Forest officials believe mined stones from Rava were taken to Rajasthan's Gadhaner through this road. "Mining the Aravalis is banned in Nuh, but there is no such prohibition in Rajasthan. This allows the miners to sell the stones, used in the construction industry, after crossing the state borders," said Sunil Harsana, an ecologist. The forest department, in Jan 2025, blocked the road to stop all illegal activities. It also ordered an FIR to be registered against three revenue officials for allowing this construction to take place in the Nuh village. The Supreme Court, hearing the petition, directed the central empowered committee (CEC) to investigate the allegations. CEC, in its report, confirmed the violations and recommended action against erring officials. Last month, Haryana's chief secretary filed an affidavit that said the state's forest department did not act against violations. The top court did not agree, and in its latest hearing on May 29, it pulled up the chief secretary for "passing the buck" to the forest department and not taking action against other officials. "It appears that (mining) mafia is strong enough to protect not only its members but also the officers of the state govt who acted in collusion with them," Chief Justice of India B R Gavai said. On Monday, environmentalists said repeated violations of norms in the Aravalis was alarming. "Aravalis are not just ancient hills, they are the lungs of northern India. Every illegal encroachment, every tree felled, is a blow to our future. Protecting them is not a choice, it is a necessity. Construction of a road through Aravalis is illegal and it also fragments the eco-sensitive zone," said Vaishali Rana, an activist.
