Give original info on ridge division: NGT to AAP govt

The Asian Age.

Metros, Delhi

The NGT granted a month to the revenue dept and the forest officials to inform it about the actual status of encroachments.

National Green Tribunal

NEW DELHI: Rapping the Delhi government’s revenue department over varying figures on forest land encroachments in Southern Ridge, the NGT said it didn’t want “tamasha” and sought authentic information on the issue.

A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S. Rathore expressed surprise that the revenue department was coming out with different figures each time and it was not clear how much time was needed to carry out the demarcation work in the ridge area.

The green panel observed: “What we propose is that we want authentic and complete info on work which remains to be done. Tell us how much time is required. We don’t want tamasha (performance) that you are filing in bits and pieces. Same for forest department. We want authentic and complete info on work which remains to be done tell us how much time is required.”

The NGT granted a month to the revenue department and the forest officials to inform it about the actual status of encroachments and the time needed for ridge demarcation.

It warned that if the needful is not done before March 1, a cost of `5,000 per day would be slapped on the authorities till the work is competed as the matter has been pending before it since 2013.

The NGT had earlier summoned the principal chief conservator of forests and AAP government’s revenue secretary to inform it about the reasons for delay in demarcation of forest land in Southern Ridge. The green panel had earlier directed the principal chief conservator of forests to file an affidavit stating how much time would be needed

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