Latest news with #UnionMinistryofEnvironment
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Preferential treatment raises eyebrows
The Kerala Forest Department's recent move to approach the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for a one-time amnesty for people possessing wildlife trophy in the State has reignited a debate over the department's alleged preferential treatment of wildlife offenders. The department has pushed a proposal for 'granting another chance to declare wild animal articles and trophies under Section 40 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972'. The justification for moving the proposal to the State Board for Wildlife was to offer an opportunity for the legal heirs of those who inherited wildlife trophy from their ancestors with valid ownership certificates. Senior officials noted that there had been several instances of the legal heirs failing to get the inherited wildlife trophy declared in their names on time for various reasons. Section 40 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, prescribes that 'every person having the control, custody or possession of any animal article, trophy or uncured trophy of captive animals specified in Schedule I shall declare to the Chief Wildlife Warden or the Authorised Officer within 30 days from the commencement of the Act.' Illegal possession of a wildlife trophy can result in imprisonment for three to seven years and a fine of not less than ₹25,000. Although forest officials argued that the beneficiaries of the proposed scheme would be legal heirs of those with the rightful ownership certificates — and that the Union government should take a call on the request — the move brought back to discussion the conflicting stands taken by the department in the case of actor Mohanlal and popular Malayalam rapper Vedan (V. M. Hiran Das), both booked for illegal possession of wildlife trophy. Officials asserted that the proposal had nothing to do with any of the wildlife crime cases currently being pursued in courts, but this has set tongues wagging. When the department took a benevolent approach to Mohanlal, who was reportedly found in possession of two pairs of ivory fixed on a mirror stand a few years ago, it went tough on Vedan, who was found wearing a chain with a pendant allegedly made from a leopard tooth. While it took an Income Tax Department raid for the department to know about the actor's alleged possession of ivory, a criminal case was booked by police for alleged possession of ganja, paving the way for the action against Vedan. The department wasted no time in arresting the rapper, whereas it reportedly handled the case of Mohanlal with kid gloves. Vedan told officials that the leopard tooth was a gift from an admirer and that he was unaware of the legal intricacies. Incidentally, both cases were booked at the Malayattoor Forest Range office and registered at the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Perumbavoor. The department chose not to remove the mirror studded with two sets of fully developed ivory to its strongroom or the State Treasury, where the material objects involved in court cases are stored. Though not illegal to leave the material objects, which are difficult to transport, with the accused after completing the legal formalities, questions on possible destruction of evidence by the accused were raised in this case. The alleged haste with which the department acted in Vedan's case received widespread condemnation from the public and those who had earlier led the State Forest Department. There was criticism that the department chose to ignore the alleged use of similar pendants by two other Malayalam movie actors, including a Union Minister. Urgent need 'Great injustice to Vedan. Nobody can be duped by a fake elephant tusk. But anybody can get confused with a tiger/leopard tooth with that of another similar animal. What a shame, especially considering the fact that the much-discussed elephant tusk case was also dealt with in the same Forest Range Office,' noted Gopinath Vallilil, a former Head of Forest Force, Kerala, in his social media account. Preferential treatment for the mighty would undermine the foundation of the rule of law and public trust in the system. The discriminatory treatment meted out to the two accused in the wildlife crime cases calls for balanced handling of the cases to earn and consolidate public trust and fair dispensation of justice.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Wayanad tunnel project gets Union Ministry nod
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has issued the final order giving environmental clearance to the proposed Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel road project with stringent norms. The order was issued on Tuesday (June 17) based on the recommendations of an expert committee formed under the Ministry. The latest order will help the State government officially start the construction work at the earliest. The ₹2,134-crore project will be executed with the cooperation of the Department of Public Works, Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board, and the Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC). The tendering process has already been completed for the project, which will be implemented by Bhopal-based Dilip Buildcon Limited and Kolkata-based Royal Infrastructure. According to Public Works department sources, the expert panel has laid 60 conditions to reduce the environmental impact and the concerns raised by various environmental organisations about the natural calamities in the ecologically sensitive areas. One of the major conditions is the strict compliance with all blasts in the project area and all the norms fixed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Central Institute for Mining and Fuel Research, they added. Also, the latest notification makes it clear that the suggestions by various other government panels related to geology, environment, and mining will have to be considered as such, apart from establishing four ground vibrator monitoring stations to constantly watch the impacts. A four-member committee recommended by the District Collector will also have to be formed to monitor the project and submit a review report every six months after the commencement of the works. Ensuring proper protection of the biodiversity in the project area is another major directive. The concerns raised by various environmentalists' organisations on the same will have to be respected throughout the project implementation. The construction company will have to ensure that the flow of the Iruvazhinji river is not interrupted. Also, it will be responsible for the close monitoring of the quality of air in the constructed tunnel. It was on October 16, 2000, that the blueprint for the 8.17-km twin tunnel, claimed to be the third longest underpass in the country, was unveiled by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. To speed up the project execution, Mr. Vijayan had included it on the list of 30 special projects directly monitored by him in the State. Despite the opposition on the part of environmentalists, the State government moved ahead with the project citing its importance in improving the connectivity between Kozhikode and Wayanad districts, bypassing the Thamarassery ghat road. The government also found that it would help people of Wayanad to quickly access the better medical facilities in Kozhikode. The possible increase in the export of agricultural produce, including spices, with the seamless connectivity and the subsequent economic growth were also highlighted.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
EAC holds meeting on Polavaram–Banakacherla Project
The Environmental Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment convened a meeting to discuss the environmental clearance for the Godavari-Banakacherla Project on Tuesday (June 17, 2025). The committee is led by Professor Chakrapani, and the meeting was held in virtual mode from the Ministry's office in New Delhi. As part of this meeting, the committee is reviewing the proposal submitted by the Andhra Pradesh Government and will evaluate the environmental impact of the Banakacherla project. The Water Resources Department officials consider the meeting of the EAC as a major milestone in the approval process. The committee is now assessing the likely environmental consequences of undertaking the project. Based on the committee's report, subsequent permissions will be considered. Recognising the importance of the moment, the A.P. Government is treating this meeting with utmost seriousness. The A.P. Government would be asked to conduct the environmental impact, studies, etc. The EAC, at present, is studying the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the Godavari-Banakacherla Link project proposed by Andhra Pradesh. The EAC's evaluation report will play a critical role in determining the project's future permissions. At a later stage, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be prepared. The EAC meeting assumes significance in the wake of the Telangana Government's serious objections to the project. Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy has written a letter to the EAC, urging it not to grant any approval and to outrightly reject the Banakacherla Project. He stated that the Andhra Pradesh Government was moving ahead with the project without prior consent or notification to Telangana. The project seeks to divert the Godavari waters to the Krishna basin, which he claims will result in violating Telangana's legitimate water rights. He strongly urged that no environmental clearance be granted to the project.
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Union govt proposes eco-sensitive zone around Kumbhalgarh sanctuary
Jaipur: Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has published a draft notification under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, proposing an eco-sensitive xone (ESZ) around Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan . As per the notification, any person interested in submitting objections or suggestions on the draft proposal may do so within 60 days from the date of its publication in the gazette. The draft reads, "The proposed ESZ will extend from zero to one kilometre from the sanctuary's boundary, covering an area of 243 square kilometres. The zero extent along the northern boundary is due to its contiguity with the Raoli Todgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. A total of 94 villages fall within the proposed zone—43 in Rajsamand, 28 in Pali, and 23 in Udaipur districts." Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, located approximately 80 kilometres north of Udaipur, is situated in one of the most ecologically fragile regions of the Aravalli range.
The Hindu
08-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala seeks Centre's nod to kill problematic wild animals straying into human habitations
The Kerala government has written to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change seeking permission to kill problematic wild animals straying into human habitations and pose a threat to people's life and property. In line with a recent Cabinet decision, the State has sought immediate action to delegate powers vested with the Union government in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to the Chief Wildlife Warden, and to 'simplify the related procedures, protocols, guidelines, advisories and so on' to eliminate animals, particularly those included in Schedule I of the Act. The government had earlier raised multiple requests to amend the law, declare wild pigs as vermin, and to shift bonnet macaque from Schedule I to Schedule II to enable management and mitigation measures at the 'State-level in a site-specific manner.' While these requests are yet to be considered, the State, has used to considerable effect, the provision of the Wildlife (Protection) Act to delegate the authority held by the Chief Wildlife Warden to Honorary Wildlife Wardens to kill wild boars that venture out of forests into human-inhabited areas and pose danger to society. While the measure has been found to be 'quite effective' in managing human-wild boar conflicts, the government recently decided to request the Centre to provide/extend such powers for other species that create problems in human habitations outside forests.
