On August 10, the National Green Tribunal restrained Numaligarh Refinery Limited from carrying out any further construction activity in the No-Development Zone in Kaziranga National Park, Assam. A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, also directed the Assam government to submit all original records and documents including any environment clearance certificates from the National Wildlife Board.
The green panel had on August 5 issued a notice to the Environment Ministry, the Assam government and the Numaligarh Refinery on a plea which alleged that concrete walls constructed by the refinery hindered the free passage of animals in the park. It had directed that no excavation work or felling of trees can be carried out in the No-Development Zone of the World Heritage Site.
During the hearing, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate change (MoEF) submitted a letter which stated that the land acquired by the refinery was in clear violation of the established laws, rules and conditions. The letter said the allotment of land and subsequent construction of the wall has been proving disastrous to the natural system and the loss of critical forest, animal corridors, biodiversity, and ecosystems can never be reversed.
The Tribunal also heard local conservationist Rohit Choudhary's plea seeking directions to immediately demolish the wall and stop tree felling so as to prevent auxiliary degradation of the environment.
Source: Business Standard
