Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of News item titled "Over 5000 hectares of forest land in Kerala under encroachment State forest dept report"

Appearing in the Deccan Herald dated 08.01.2024. The application has been registered on the basis of the news item titled “Over 5000 hectares of forest land in Kerala under encroachment State forest dept report” published in Deccan Herald, January 8, 2024.

The news item revealed that as per the Kerala Forest Department, annual administrative report 2021-22 over 5000 hectare of forested land in the state has been encroached upon. News item further revealed that of 5024.535 hectares of forest land encroached upon, the large chunk of 1998.03 hectares is in the Kottayam High Range Circle which included the Kothamangalam, Kottayam, Munnar, Marayoor and Mankulam divisions. It also revealed that the second highest portion i.e. 1599.61 hectare of encroached forest land is in the Palakkad Eastern Circle and that the third is the Kannur Northern Circle with 1085.67 hectare under encroachment.

The NGT said that the news item raised substantial issues relating to compliance of environmental norms and directed notices to be issued to the Principal Secretary, Environment and Forest Department Karnataka; Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Kerala Forest Department and Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala Forest Department. The case will be listed before the southern zonal bench at Chennai, April 12, 2024.