NGT orders immediate action on forest land encroachment in Guna

The Central Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Bhopal ordered the Guna Collector and Raghogarh Tehsildar of Madhya Pradesh to remove all encroachments from forest land. The land must be handed over to the Forest Department, with proper boundary demarcation and environmental protection measures. The officials must attend the tribunal’s next hearing on December 4, 2024, via video conference to explain compliance.

After a joint committee’s report, the court issued its orders. The committee, including officials from the Forest Department, district administration, and Madhya Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, found significant violations of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. It revealed large areas of forest land had been illegally encroached, used for private cultivation, and sold. The committee found over 64 trees had been illegally felled in the past three years.

The case centers around forest compartment no. 678 in Raghogarh Tehsil, Guna district, Madhya Pradesh. According to the committee’s report, between January 1, 2021, and November 30, 2023, over 64 trees were cut down in the forest boundary. Additionally, around 26.487 hectares of forest land had been encroached for cultivation. The report highlighted that 7.457 hectares had been encroached, and despite multiple notifications, no action had been taken to remove the encroachments.

The local administration neglected to protect the forest land despite warnings from the Forest Department and official reports, leading to the NGT's decision. The Forest Department informed the district administration about the violations, but no action was taken. Besides the illegal cultivation, 23 individuals occupied 19.030 hectares of land, leading to further encroachments.

The local administration’s inaction has concerned environmentalists and residents. In response to the NGT’s order, the court emphasized the need for swift action to restore the land to the Forest Department’s control and prevent further environmental degradation.

The tribunal directed the systematic removal of all encroachments. This involves identifying and marking the forest land boundaries, handing it over to the Forest Department, and safeguarding them against further illegal encroachment. If the orders are not followed, the Collector and Tehsildar will explain their non-compliance in personal affidavits. The NGT stated the issue must be resolved quickly and the authorities must preserve the land as per the Forest (Conservation) Act rules.

The court’s ruling follows the trend of encroachments on forest lands across India. Such illegal encroachments have led to habitat destruction, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, threatening the environment. Encroachments often involve converting forest land for agriculture, construction, or other activities that undermine the ecological balance. These activities violate environmental laws and harm local ecosystems and communities dependent on forests for their livelihood.

In Raghogarh Tehsil, encroachment of forest land has violated the Forest (Conservation) Act and caused financial loss to the state government. Reports indicate individuals have illegally sold the forest land. The illegal sale of state land undermines the state’s sovereignty and leads to a loss of public assets.

The NGT’s intervention underscores the urgency of addressing illegal encroachments and enforcing environmental laws. Past cases show that administrative inaction can allow encroachers to flourish unchecked, causing irreparable environmental damage. The tribunal’s order sends a strong message to Guna and Raghogarh authorities to act swiftly to protect the state’s natural resources.

The case questions the Revenue Department’s role in land transactions and leases. The NGT found that certain land parcels had been leased out in violation of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, worsening encroachment. The Tribunal directed the cancellation of these leases to prevent further land misuse.

The NGT has been working to protect forest land and promote sustainable practices nationwide. This case adds to the evidence for better enforcement of environmental regulations and a proactive approach by local administrations in safeguarding natural resources.

The matter will be reviewed again on December 4, 2024, hoping for swift action to resolve the issue and safeguard the forest land in Guna and Raghogarh.

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