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2025 Supreme(Online)(NGT) 505
NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL KOLKATA (EASTERN ZONE BENCH)
B. Amit Sthalekar, J, Dr. Arun Kumar Verma, EM
Srikanta Dash – Appellant
Versus
State of Odisha – Respondent
Original Application No.108/2024/EZ
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr. Akhand
For the Respondents: Mr. Jajeswar Nayak, Mr. Dipanjan Ghosh, Ms. Rashhmi Singhee, Mr. Biswa Chandan Mohanty
The court directed the removal of illegal encroachments on forest land and mandated compensation for environmental damage.
Headnote:(A) Environmental Protection Act, 1986 - Sections regarding Encroachment and Environmental Compensation - Illegal encroachment and construction over reserve forest land are alleged against private respondents - Evidence of damage to natural diversity found by inspection committee - Immediate action ordered for restoration of land and computation of environmental compensation. (Paras 1-32)
(B) Principles of law against illegal encroachment - Court emphasized on the duty of state officers to enforce laws protecting environmental integrity and take action against violators. (Paras 11, 12)
Facts of the case:
The applicant alleged that private respondents involved in illegal encroachment and harmful activities on reserve forest land, including the construction of a farm and digging of ponds; photos and official records appended as evidence.
Findings of Court:
Encroachment established on some plots whereas plot of serious allegation found cleared, maintaining a poultry farm; directions issued for removal of encroachments and restoration.
Issues: Whether the respondents illegally encroached and what measures should the Tribunal take for restoration.
Ratio Decidendi: The court found substantial evidence of forest land encroachment and directed state authorities to take active measures against illegal constructions and violations impacting the environment.
Result: Application disposed with directions to restore land and compute damages.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. allegations of illegal encroachment on forest land. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4) |
| 2. inspection committee findings on encroachments and environmental damages. (Para 5 , 6) |
| 3. responses from state representatives regarding encroachments. (Para 7 , 10) |
| 4. legal observations on enforcement and compliance. (Para 11 , 14) |
| 5. court's directives for restoration and compensation. (Para 26 , 28 , 32) |
ORDER
1. The allegation in the present Original Application is that the Private Respondent Nos.11 and 12 are involved in illegal encroachment, clearing of trees and construction of a farm house building over reserved forest land at Akhupadar revenue village of Ranapur Tehsil in Nayagarh District of Odisha. It is alleged that They also built roads within the reserve forest and constructed a farm house in the name and style of ‘Swastik Farm House’ on the disputed land, digging ponds and grabbing lakhs of rupees in the form of government financial assistance under various schemes. It is also stated that financial assistance was provided for Poultry Farm and Fish Farming in those ponds in the Reserved Forest Area and special subsidy was also granted to the encroachers by the Nayagarh Agriculture Department and Horticulture Department for fruit farming.
2. It is alleged that Respondent Nos.11 and 12 have blocked the forest land and cut down the trees and destroyed the natural protected forest land by digging ponds and by carrying out fishing and other illegal works they have polluted the forests and damaged the original form of natural diversities. It is also alleged that in these illegal activities, the departmental officers of Nayagarh district are involved since without their knowledge it would not have been happened.
3. The Applicant has appended photographs as Annexure-I to show the illegal encroachment of forest land, digging pond and other damage to the original form of the reserve forest in Akhupadar revenue village.
4. The Applicant has also appended the Record of Rights (ROR) as Annexure-II, showing land bearing Khata No.154, Plot No.305, Ownership – Reserved, Type of Land – Forest, Area of Land– 4.950 acres under Ranpur Tahasil in Nayagarh District has been illegally blocked and encroached for construction of poultry farm creating serious environmental pollution inside the reserved forest.
5. At the time of admission this Tribunal constituted a Committee comprising of the following members with instructions to inspect the site in question and submit its Report with regard to the allegations made in the Original Application :-
i) District Magistrate, Nayagarh or his representative not below the rank of Additional District Magistrate;
ii) Divisional Forest Officer, Khordha or his representative not below the rank of Assistant Conservator of Forests; and iii) Senior Scientist, Odisha State Pollution Control Board
6. Collector and District Magistrate, Nayagarh has filed his affidavit bringing on record the Joint Committee Report of an inspection carried out on 02.07.2024 which reads as under :-
“COMMITTEE REPORT OF JOINT VERIFICATION 1N O. A . NO. 108/2024 FILED BY SRIKANTH DASH -VRS- STATE OF ODISHA & OTHERS
The Hon'ble NGT have ordered to constitute a committee comprising of the following members and that the committee shall visit the site in question and submit it's report on affidavit within four weeks with regard to the allegation made in Original Application No. 108/2024
i. District Magistrate, Nayagarh or his representative not below the rank of Addl. District Magistrate, Nayagarh.
ii. Divisional Forest Officer, Khurda or his representative not below the rank of Asst. Conservator of Forests.
iii. Senior Scientist, Odisha State Pollution Control Board, Berhampur As per direction of the Hon'ble NGT, Collector, Nayagarh being the Nodal Officer in this case constituted the committee taking the following members (1) A.D.M.(Revenue), Nayagarh, the representative of Collector, Nayagarh (2) Asst. Conservator of Forest, the representative of D
