Judgement of the National Green Tribunal (Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal) in the matter of Pallamari Pahadivali Banjari Devi Jan Seva Samiti Vs Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change & Others dated 23/05/2017 regarding order dated 04.01.2017 & 05.01.2017 passed by the Union of India and State of Chhattisgarh respectively for the diversions of 79.56 hectares of forest land for iron ore mining in East Bhanupratappur forest division in favour of M/s Monnet Ispat and Energy Ltd. in Kanker District Chhattisgarh. It is contended by the the Appellant (Pallamari Pahadivali Banjari Devi Jan Seva Samiti) that based upon the document that the SDO (Forest), Bhanupratapgarh, District Kanker, Chhattisgarh in his communication had clearly spelt out that the density of the forest was between 0.7 & 0.8. He has also drawn our attention to the guidelines issued by the State in which it has been provided that where the density of the forest is 0.6 or more no permission for diversion should be granted.

NGT directs that the order dated 04.01.2017 deserves to be set aside for consideration and that the issue be decided at the earliest.