Forest Ministry team to take time for land report, new DC complex

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 5, 2016: The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal at Chennai had extended time till August 4 to Chief Conservator of Forests, Ministry of Environment and Forest’s Regional Office, to file a report on the nature of the land earmarked for the construction of a five-floor district office complex in the city. On the petition by activist and advocate Suma Nayak questioning the allocation of 5.89 acres of woody area for the district office complex, the Southern Bench had, on April 28, directed a team of officers from the Ministry’s Bengulur Regional Office, led by the Chief Conservator of Forests, to inspect the land and submit a report by July 4.

The Bench asked the team to mention in the report the extent of land, the number of trees therein, the species and whether these trees were natural or artificial. The Bench had directed the State government to maintain status quo till it decided on the petition

The Ministry team, led by CCF Somashekar, carried out a detailed survey of the land and of the trees, on June 17 and 18. The work was carried out in the presence of Advocate Nayak and other environmentalists.

Yesterday July 4, advocate for the Ministry sought one month’s time to file the report. While adjourning the hearing to August 4, the Bench said that the status quo order would continue.