Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding obstruction of tiger corridors by new road projects, Maharashtra, 06/01/2020
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of News item published in "The Times of India" Authored by Vijay Pinjarkar Titled "String of new road projects in Maha to cut off tiger corridors" dated 06/01/2020 regarding obstruction of tiger corridors by new road projects in the State of Maharashtra by the State of Maharashtra and the Ministry of Road Transport (MoRTH), Government of India. It was reported that the necessary steps and precautions in such road projects for protection of environment and wildlife were lacking.
The Tribunal had directed the Additional Director General Forest (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), to have an action plan prepared and oversee its execution. Report filed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and MoEF&CC in November 2019 showed that the matter was duly considered by a Site Appraisal Team and mitigation measures were planned after visit to the animal crossing points.
The NGT made it clear that safety precautions for protection of the wildlife cannot be ignored and directed the NTCA to modify its action plan, so that measures for protecting the wildlife does not take unduly long time. The plan would be binding on the project proponents "irrespective of their consent and may be enforced by halting the projects wherever necessary till the suggested measures are duly adopted." The NGT also directed the Additional Director General (Wildlife), MoEF&CC to submit a further status report after three months on the matter.