n an attempt to stop any further deterioration of the ecology inside
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, the Bombay High Court has imposed an interim
stay on construction activities in the protected forest area in the
Western Ghats. For the moment, there will be no construction of
tourist resorts, installation of windmills and tree felling.
The high court has also directed the government to take steps to
remove encroachments from inside the notified sanctuary.
A division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice DY
Chandrachud has also directed the central government to inform the
UNESCO Heritage Team visiting the Western Ghats that steps were being
taken to ensure movement of unauthorised persons in the area or
illegal activities was stopped forthwith.
The court's directions came during the hearing of a public interest
litigation (PIL) filed by Satara-based activist, Nana Khamkar, seeking
preservation of the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, which has come under
threat due to the government illegally permitting installation of
windmills which requires the felling of trees.
According to a reply Khamkar received under the Right To Information
Act from the range forest officer, Wildlife, Koyna, 500 to 550 trees
have been felled in the area of 2.5 to 3 hectares in Koyna Wild Life
Sanctuary at Navaja.
Also, 215 windmills and 10 resorts have come up in Koyna Wild Life
Sanctuary without permission of the Indian Wildlife Board, the RTI
reply stated.
"If such activities continue and encroachments are not removed, then
the UNESCO Heritage Team, visiting the western ghats at the end of
October, would not notify it (sanctuary) as a world heritage site,"
Khamkar said.
Khamkar's PIL also challenged the New Mahabaleshwar Project which is
to be undertaken by the Maharashtra government with the view to
decongest the twin hill stations – Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani.
Government pleader SR Nargolkar informed the court that the government
was not responsible for permitting installation of windmills in the
sanctuary.
The decision is taken by the Maharashtra Energy Development Authority
(MEDA). The high court has directed that MEDA be added as a respondent
to the PIL.
The high court has directed the chief secretary to hear Khamkar on
issues raised by him in the PIL and submit a report on the issue by
the next date of hearing, on November 24.
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