The order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Aadhyatmik Kshetra Paryavaran Sansthan Vs State of Rajasthan & Others dated 07/09/2022.

Aadhyatmik Kshetra Paryavaran Sansthan had filed an application before the NGT, July 30, 2022 alleging that Municipal Corporation, Jodhpur has started taking steps to launch farm house scheme on the protected forest areas, hilly region and the catchment areas - over which any private property transfer in city is prohibited. Further, roads are being constructed by cutting off the hills and agricultural as well as flora and fauna of the areas was being adversely affected.

The report filed by the Deputy Conservator of Forest, Jodhpur has submitted that there are encroachments and for their removal, letters have been addressed to the concerned collector. However, nothing has been done by the authorities to remove the encroachments.

The NGT, September 7, 2022 directed the Secretary, Urban Development, state of Rajasthan for a report on the matter. Secretary, Forest has been directed to ensure that there shall be no encroachment on the forest land. "The forest area must be restored to forest department and revenue records must also be corrected according to rules," directed the bench of Justice Sheo Kumar Singh of the NGT.