On a petition alleging encroachment of forest land by SR Breweries, a distillery company located in Tangi-Choudwar tehsil, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notice to the State Government to take necessary action against the encroacher.
Petitioner Subash Mohapatro in his petition contended that the brewery unit has encroached around 1.84 hectares of forest land, mostly of Jungle Kisam. The details of plots: 449/552 and 449/554 in Khata No 128 in Barapada Mouza of Tangi-Choudwar tehsil.
Petitioner’s counsel Sankar Prasad Pani submitted before the court that prior approval of Central Government is required for non-forest use of any forest land and in this case no such approval has been granted which itself is a violation Section 2 of Forest Conservation Act 1980.
He alleged that the district Collector and forest officials at State level have not taken any credible action even after the same was brought to their notice by local villagers.
Satisfied with the documents presented to court, the bench comprising Justice PK Ray and Prof PC Mishra has directed the district Collector, Cuttack, DFO Cuttack, Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment Department and Additional PCCF, MoEF CC to submit a status report and action taken report within four weeks.