ITANAGAR, Mar 20: In what appeared to be a major setback for the State authorities, the National Green Tribal (NGT), Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata has directed the State respondents in Govt of Arunachal Pradesh to not carry out construction activities within the Namsai forest area in question.
The Bench of Justice B Amit Sthalekar (Judicial Member) and Prof A Senthil Vel (Expert Member), after going through the original application filed by applicants James Teli Camder and Tongam Jomoh with the allegation that constructions have been made and are being made within the Namsai forest area which is stated to be a reserved forest, has ordered to “issue notice to the respondents, returnable within four weeks”.
“List on 19.04.2023, till then there shall be a stay on all construction activities within the Namsai Forest area in question,” read the NGT ‘order’.
The construction activities in question include construction of Golden Pagoda Meditation Centre at Tengapani area of Namsai, Mini Secretariat building at Namsai and construction of Lord Buddha statue in Lathao circle of Namsai district.
The NGT noted that annexure-A8 to the original application is an order dated 24.02.2022 passed by the State Information Commissioner, Arunachal Pradesh Information (Commission), Itanagar, whereby a penalty of Rs 25,000 along with a compensation of Rs 10,000 has been imposed on the Public Information Officer-cum-Divisional Forest Officer, Namsai Forest Division for providing false information. This letter clearly mentions that the area in question is Namsai Forest area and instead of answering the RTI query of the applicant in 'Yes' or 'No', the Public Information Officer has only stated that ‘The issue of NOC by Forest Department does not arise’. In our opinion, matter requires consideration,” it said.