The National Green Tribunal has slammed the Assam government over a CAG report which has detected a number of lapses and anomalies by the state in maintenance of the Kaziranga National Park.
"Our attention is drawn to the report of CAG published by the government of Assam... According to the report the area along and around NH-37 is illegally exploited for commercial purposes and there is inaction on the part of Assam.
"Certainly, whatsoever is revealed is not conducive to the environment of the area in question, with particular reference to the normal movement of wildlife across the Kaziranga National Park," a bench headed by Justice U D Salvi said.
The tribunal was hearing a plea opposing expansion of NH-37 which passes through Jakhalabandha to Bokakhat through the Kaziranga Park.
The observations came after petitioner Rohit Choudhary placed before the bench the CAG report titled "Performance Audit of Kaziranga National Park - Issues and Challenges".
The green panel after going through the report directed the Assam government to take "positive action" in respect of the recommendations made in the report and asked it to place before us the action taken report within three weeks.
The matter is fixed for next hearing on May 26.
According to the CAG report, against the financial outlay of Rs 93.76 crore proposed in the original Annual Plan of Operations for 2010-11 to 2012-13, the Kaziranga authorities got only Rs 17.37 crore, which was about 19 per cent of the funds demanded.
"From the results of physical verification, interactions with wildlife authorities/villagers and scrutiny of various correspondences, it would appear that uncontrolled and ever increasing construction/human settlements with urbanization at places, commercial activities/mining had contributed to blocking majority of stretch of NH 37 including designated animal corridors (except some patches of Haldhibari and Burapahar)," the report said.
