News Item titled "Trees felled for eco-park leave behind barren land" appearing in The Times of India dated 12.01.2024 Vs

This original application is registered on the basis of the news item titled "Trees felled for eco-park leave behind barren land" published in the ‘Times of India’ dated 12.01.2024.

The news item relates to alleged cutting of trees for development of an eco-tourism on the reserve forest land in Wanowrie, Maharashtra. As per the news item, Maharashtra Ecotourism Development Board is constructing an eco-tourism park on the reserve forest land in Wanowrie, behind Ruby Hall Clinic and the said park will be spread over 4 acres, but as per the allegation of residents, Board had felled around 100 gliricidia trees for constructing the park. The residents also alleged that the Forest Department has rampantly cut most trees in the vicinity over 10 days.

The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms.

Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.

Hence, we implead the following as respondents in the matter:

i. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (HoFF), Maharashtra.

ii. District Collector/District Magistrate, Pune.

Let Notice be issued to the above Respondents for filing their response before the appropriate bench of the Tribunal.

Since the matter relates to the Western Zonal Bench, Pune, therefore, OA is transferred to the Western Zonal Bench for appropriate further action. Let the original record of the OA be transferred to the Western Zonal Bench, Pune.

List before Western Zonal Bench at Pune on 18.04.2024.