Supreme Court’s order on forest conservation: There will be no factory or mining within 1KM of National Parks and Gardens

The Supreme Court has given a big decision regarding environmental protection. The court said that there will be no factory within a radius of 1 km from all the protected parks, national parks and sanctuaries of the country. Apart from this, no excavation of any kind will be done around them.

The court further said that this entire area will be Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ). Whatever happens inside the ESZ limits, will happen only with the permission of the Chief Conservator of Forests. If the ESZ goes beyond the one km buffer zone or if a legal instrument sets a higher limit, the limits to be extended will prevail.

Court’s verdict in TN Godavarman case
This decision is of a bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao, BR Gavai and Aniruddha Bose. In the TN Godavarman case, the verdict has been given on the applications regarding protected forests and national parks. There are a total of 103 National Parks and 544 Wildlife Sanctuaries in the country. Madhya Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands have the largest number of National Parks.

There will be no permanent construction around the park or sanctuary.

Forest Department will give report of structures built in parks in 3 months
The Supreme Court has asked the Chief Conservator of Forests of each state to submit a list of structures present under ESZ in their state. Forest departments will have to prepare this list within 3 months. The court said that no mining will be allowed in the eco-sensitive zone.

Environment more important than civil rights: SC
In March 2022, the Supreme Court had heard a case related to the issues of forest and non-forest land in Haryana. During this, the court had said that the environment is more important than civil rights. The court had further said that the environment should be more dominant over other rights and forests should be protected. The SC had emphasized the need to preserve forests.

In one of its decisions, the Supreme Court had described the environment as more important than civil rights.

Rajasthan High Court also gave decision in forest conservation case
A month ago, the Rajasthan High Court had also directed the state government in the matter related to the protection of Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve and other forests. The court had said that the government should mark the forest land and enter it in the revenue record. Apart from this, the court has also asked the state government to submit the tiger conservation plan to NTCA by August 15.