Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of In re : News item appearing in Hindu dated 11.12.2023 titled “Cauvery basin lost nearly 12,850 sq.km. of green cover” dated 10/01/2024.

The original application is registered suo motu on the basis of the news item titled “Cauvery basin lost nearly 12,850 sq.km. of green cover” published in ‘The Hindu’ dated 11.12.2023. As per the said news natural vegetation on nearly 12,850 sq. km of land in the Cauvery basin has been lost in the 50 years from 1965 to 2016.

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The court was of the opinion that the issue raised substantial issues relating to the compliance of environmental laws. Court directed notice to be issued to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Forest Survey of India, Southern Zone Bangaluru; Kerala Forest Department; Karnataka Forest Department; Tamil Nadu Forest Department. All the five respondents have been directed to file their response before the Southern Zone Bench, Chennai.