Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of News Item titled "Forest land five times Delhi’s geographical area under encroachment govt. data shows" appearing in Deccan Herald dated 05.01.2024.

The matter related to large scale encroachment on the forest land across the country. Tribunal in the previous proceedings had taken note of the fact that in the state of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur, forest area under encroachment is falling to the extent of 56 per cent.

Response on behalf of some of the states/ Union Territories have been received. States/ Union Territories who are yet to file the response have sought time to file the same. All the states/ Union Territories have been directed to supply a copy of the reply to the MoEF&CC in addition to filing the same before the tribunal. Secretary, MoEF&CC will compile the information so received from all the states/Union Territories.

The NGT directed that response by all the remaining states/Union Territories as also tabulated compiled response by MoEF&CC be filed atleast one week before the next date of hearing, July 31, 2024.