"The team has already made a study on the basis of satellite images, now they are carrying out a field study. On the basis of the study, the next course of action will be taken," said South 24-Parganas district magistrate Narayan Swarup Nigam.
"I had asked my officers to check out how these illegal structures could be demolished. We are taking legal consultations needed prior to the demolition job. So this field report will be very important," said environment minister Dr Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar. The states' Schedule-I Animal Handling Committee member Joydeep Kundu said, "The building has to be demolished. It is not only an eyesore. Such building just cannot be there within 200 metres of a tiger habitat."
The building block has violated all norms and stands as the symbol of ecological horror. On August 16 last year, governor M K Narayanan expressed his disgust over the 'illegal construction' during his visit to the Sunderbans. His anger left the local administration startled. They hurriedly issued a demolition order. The order was set aside by the high court for the state's slipshod proceedings. Instead of correcting their measures, the government took the order as an excuse for a non-action. On the other hand, in complete violation of the high court order, the hotel-owner finished the construction of the hotel and is now almost ready for functioning.
"We have lodged an FIR against the owner. We will take the legal course against him," said Nigam. But the district administration remained clueless on how it was allowed to be constructed. The court accused the government of violating the principles of natural justice by not giving the hotel-owner an opportunity to present his version before demolishing his building. The slipshod inquiry and the court order, environmentalists fear, may spurt illegal construction in the Sunderbans. The world heritage site has witnessed a spate of unauthorised construction, thanks to a sudden increase of tourists from all over the world to this unique mangrove forest that harbours tigers. Read the full report here.
Source: Times of India, Kolkata.
