Provide list of illegal encroachments: NGT to Uttarakhand

The National Green Tribunal today directed Uttarakhand to provide a detailed list of all the illegal encroachments in the reserved forest areas of the state.
A bench headed by Justice P Jyothimani also directed the state not to allow dumping of municipal waste in forest areas while posting the matter for next hearing on Januray 22.
The Tribunal was hearing a petition filed by NGO Centre For Environment Litigation seeking a direction to the Centre to demolish illegal and unauthorized constructions in the reserved forest areas in the state.
"Direct the respondents to forthwith stop various non- forest activities going on in various forest areas of Uttarakhand," the plea said.

The plea, filed through advocate Gaurav Bansal, has said that discharging of municipal solid waste and sewage in the forest area causes degradation of forest area.
"Direct the respondents to constitute a special team for the removal and eviction of all the illegal encroachments present in the reserved forest area of Uttrakhand," it has said.