Corbett National Park’s Pakhro Range has received a setback from the Supreme Court in cases of illegal construction and tree felling. Former Forest Minister of Uttarakhand, Harak Singh Rawat, and the then DFO Kishan Chand have been severely criticized by the Supreme Court. The apex court has said that both of them considered themselves above the law and allowed the cutting of a large number of trees in Jim Corbett National Park while ignoring the rules. The Supreme Court stated that despite serious allegations against Kishan Chand, former Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat forcibly appointed him as DFO. The entire case is an example of collusion between politicians and bureaucrats.
Commenting further on the matter, the Supreme Court stated that the CBI is already investigating the case. It should investigate the roles of other individuals as well and submit a status report to the Supreme Court within three months. The Supreme Court has also granted approval for setting up a tiger safari in the buffer zone of Jim Corbett National Park. The court said that necessary conditions for this will be specified in detailed orders.
The Supreme Court emphasized that tigers protect forests, and without tigers, forests are destroyed. Therefore, tigers should have rights over forests. Justice B.R. Gavai stated in his decision that dirty political-bureaucratic nexus has caused significant damage to forests and the environment. The state should assess the cost of damage and recover it from those responsible for causing environmental damage. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has allowed the cutting of thousands of trees in Pakhru without halting the existing safari but a tiger conservation center will be established in Uttarakhand.
A committee of representatives from the NTCA, NTSCC, and officers of the MOEF will be formed, which will not be below the rank of joint secretary and Wildlife Authority. They will recommend measures for compensation and determine the cost of damage. In fact, the Supreme Court was challenged in the case of bringing tigers from the zoo and keeping them in the buffer zone in the name of safari and the illegal construction in Corbett Park. The large-scale tree cutting took place in the Kalagarh Range in 2021 while Harak Singh Rawat was the Forest Minister. The Supreme Court’s comments came during the hearing of this case.
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[…] persuaded the provincial government to establish India’s first national park, initially named Hailey National Park, later renamed Ramganga National Park, and finally Jim Corbett National Park in his honor. Local writers and poets, including Deven Mewari in his book “Meri Yaadon ka […]