NGT extends stay on construction of wall in Rajaji Park

The National Green Tribunal has extended its stay on construction of a wall inside the Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, noting that the structure would obstruct the movement of elephants along the Song River in the state.
A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also ordered the Director, Wild Life Institute, Dehradun to be personally present before the Tribunal on April 30, the next date of hearing.
The construction was planned by the state irrigation department, allegedly to protect the village Gohari Mafi from flooding of the river.
"We direct that the concerned officer from MoEF shall also be present before the Tribunal on the next date of hearing and shall also comment upon stability of structures keeping in view the parameter of once in 50 years of flood. The Chief Wild Life Warden, Uttarakhand shall also be present before the Tribunal," the bench said.

On April 28, last year the Tribunal had directed the Uttarakhand government and MoEF to maintain "status quo" in the area as "construction of the wall will cause obstruction in the movement of wildlife along with the elephant corridor".
The Tribunal was hearing a petition filed by NGO Social Action for Forest and Environment (SAFE) seeking directions to remove the wall and restore the area to its original position and take action against violators.
The NGO had alleged that the construction proposed by the irrigation department of Uttarakhand was in violation to the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

It had claimed that the department had not obtained prior forest clearance from Environment Ministry or the state government for "non-forest" activity in the forest area of the Rajaji National Park.