Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Umashankar Patwa & Others Vs Union of India & Others dated 01/06/2021.

The question in consideration was whether Hindustan Institute of Technology & Management and Anand Engineering College are within the wildlife sanctuary notified by Uttar Pradesh as “Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary” vide Notification dated March 27, 1991 in district Agra, under Section 18 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

The matter has been considered by the Tribunal on several occasions in the last seven years. The committee which was formed to look into the matter noted that large scale constructions existed even before the notification came into place, outside the core area of the sanctuary. The court directed that an appropriate final notification must be passed in accordance with law and pending the finalization of the notification, no further construction would be allowed.