The National Green Tribunal (NGT), a body which overlooks environment-related cases, has issued a notice to the Gujarat government’s forest department over illegal tree felling in the Koteshwar area, located on the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar highway.
The NGT has registered a suo motu cognisance over the threat to 77 hectares of forest land in Koteshwar.
Commenting on this, Justice Prakash Shrivastava, the chairperson of an NGT bench, reportedly said, “As per the article, this forest is home to over 700 species of flora and fauna, including some endangered species and this area, considered the last wildlife refuge near the city, is threatened by ongoing deforestation and urban encroachment as plans to transform it into a biodiversity park are set in motion as part of the Sabarmati Riverfront extension plan.”
‘Violations of environmental laws at the site’ were reported by NGT’s legal expert committee.
The NGT has sought a response to this notice from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Gujarat, IFS U D Singh, by November 18. The case will be heard next on the same date.