It informed a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar that it would implement the directions of the Supreme Court and the green panel without delay or default.
"The counsel appearing for Uttarakhand submits that the inhabitants will be removed and structures would be demolished as expeditiously as possible from the Jim Corbett National Park and in any case not more than one year...
"He further states that the Deputy Commissioner of the area would file status-cum compliance report, every three months before the tribunal, to show the progress in compliance of the directions contained in the orders," the bench said while disposing of the plea seeking rehabilitation of the residents.
The apex court, in December 2013, had directed the UP irrigation department to vacate the residential colonies and hand them over to Uttarakhand government within six months.
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The green panel had also constituted a committee comprising Director of the tiger reserve, senior officials of the environment ministry, UP pollution control board and irrigation departments of UP and Uttarakhand. It had asked the panel to conduct a survey in the area and submit a report.
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 state Irrigation Department for the Ramganga hydel project.
The Supreme Court had handed this case over to the National Green Tribunal last year.
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