Shimla- The High Court of Himachal Pradesh has taken cognizance of alarming allegations of widespread illegal felling of forest trees in the Nachan Forest Division of Mandi District.
Responding to a petition filed by one Raju, a resident of VPO Chail Chowk in District Mandi, Division bench headed by Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel has initiated a suo moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to address the matter and uphold environmental conservation.
The petitioner has implicated the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Nachan, who has held the position for over five years, accusing them of orchestrating the destruction of thousands of green trees across various forest areas.
Moreover, the petitioner claims that unauthorized roads have been constructed by cutting down trees in dense forest regions, disregarding the requisite clearances mandated by the Forest Conservation Act.
The alleged deforestation has even encroached upon a sanctuary area spanning approximately 10 kilometers around the Shikari Devi-Dehar Road.
The petitioner further contends that the DFO, in collaboration with others, has cleared around 500 green trees to build a ground near Chail Chowk, situated a mere 100 meters from the Rest House.
To address these serious allegations and verify the claims made by the respondents in their counter-affidavits, the High Court has constituted a committee.
The committee comprises the Deputy Commissioner of Mandi, the Superintendent of Police of Mandi, and the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority of Mandi. Their primary responsibility is to thoroughly investigate the allegations and submit a detailed report within a stipulated period of three months.
While the respondents have refuted the allegations leveled against them in their reply, the court has emphasized the importance of a comprehensive inquiry to ascertain the veracity of these claims.
The High Court has scheduled a follow-up hearing on October 10, 2023, to review the findings and take appropriate action.
