NGT seeks MoEF reply on funds to rehabilitate Kalagarh people

The National Green Tribunal has sought response from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on the issue of providing funds for rehabilitating the residents from colonies of Kalagarh, which lies within the most sensitive core area of the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar expressed concern over delay in non-compliance of the Supreme Court order directing eviction of residents from colonies of Kalagarh and asked the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to expeditiously implement the order.
"Counsel appearing on behalf of the MoEF would take clear instructions and particularly in relation to providing finances to the State of Uttarakhand for settlement of persons who are going to be removed from Jim Corbett National Park," the bench said.

The green panel also directed Uttarakhand government to file a detailed affidavit giving complete details about the resettlement plan for these residents and posted the matter for hearing on October 20.
UP government had earlier told the bench that it has demolished three buildings in Kalagarh and assured the NGT that it would take further action in the matter.
The tribunal had taken strong exception to UP government's non-compliance of the Supreme Court order directing eviction of residents from colonies located inside the sensitive core area of the Corbett Tiger Reserve.

The apex court, in December 2013, had directed the UP irrigation department to vacate residential colonies and hand them over to Uttarakhand government within six months.

The green panel had also constituted a committee comprising Director, Tiger Corbett Reserve, senior officials from environment ministry, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board and irrigation department of UP and Uttarakhand. It had directed the panel to conduct a survey in the area and submit report within two weeks.
In its December 2013 judgement, the Supreme Court had
upheld the 2004 report of its Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to return the encroached New Kalagarh irrigation colony to the Corbett Tiger Reserve and set a six-month deadline for the state government to ensure compliance.
In August 1966, the Forest Department of undivided Uttar Pradesh had handed over around 9,000 hectares of Corbett National Park land to the Irrigation Department for the Ramganga hydel project.

The houses were built for people at the site during the construction of the Ram Ganga Dam also known as the Kalagarh Dam, which was completed in 1974.
The Supreme Court has now handed this case over to the National Green Tribunal.