Justice D D Sinha and Justice V K Tahilramani directed the Centre to file an affidavit within three weeks declaring its stand on recommendations made by the panel on conserving and preserving ecologically sensitive areas within the Sahyadri range.
On the last occasion, judges had expressed displeasure to find that the central government lawyer had no specific instructions about the action to be taken on the panel report, although the Maharashtra government has already forwarded its views to the Centre way back in January 25, 2012.
The court is hearing a petition filed by Awaaz Foundation, a city-based NGO actively engaged in protecting environment.
The NGO has sought directions to the Centre to declare the Sawantwadi-Doddamarg wildlife corridor in Sindhudurg district because of apprehensions of rapid degradation of significant bio-diversity reserves within the corridor.
According to the NGO, the corridor has 303 species of plants, shrubs and trees, several with crucial medicinal values, 18 species of wildlife, including Bengal tiger, leopards, black bear, wild buffaloes and 13 species of birds.
Besides, the 35-square kilometre stretch facilitates movement of wild animals such as Asiatic elephant, as well as extremely endangered species of tiger between Koyna and Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuaries and Chandoli National Park. (More)
