IE : HC to state: Find alternatives to avoid destruction of forests : Aug 10, 2007

HC to state: Find alternatives to avoid destruction of forests

Express News Service

Mumbai, August 09: While hearing the public litigation interest (PIL) on the
protection of mangroves in the state, a division bench of the Bombay High
Court on Thursday suggested the state authorities to come up with
alternative means to avoid destruction of forests for infrastructure
projects.

A division bench of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice D Y
Chandrachud suggested the Central and State authorities to form a body which
looks into the environmental hazards of the developmental projects and
provides positive solutions.

The petitioner, Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG), in the PIL has
contended that the state is defying court orders by not declaring all land
detected under satellite mapping as "protected forest." Out of the 5938.1771
hectares of land which was detected as forest land as per mapping, only
2157.3256 hectares have been notified as "protected forest" by the state in
January 2007. The remaining 3780.8285 hectares, according to the state, have
been used for developmental projects.

The court, which is looking into some of the "infrastructure project" mooted
by the state bodies, was examining a Central Railway (CR) project which
involves laying of railway lines between Nerul to Uran. Suresh Kumar, the
counsel for CR said that the earthing for the lines has already been done,
except the areas covered with mangroves.

"Why don't you construct a bridge," suggested Chief Justice Kumar. When the
counsel for CR said that the work has already begun and even to construct a
bridge, mangroves will have to be cut, Chief Justice Kumar replied that
these days it's possible to construct a bridge without cutting trees.
"You cannot look at development as completely antagonistic to preservation
of forests. Are there any alternative options?" said Justice D Y
Chandrachud.

Publication : IE; Section : MN; Pg : 3; Date : 10/8/07
URL : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=250217