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What steps have been taken to protect forests, Bombay High Court asks state and Centre

A division bench of justices Shantanu Kemkar and MS Karnik gave the direction while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Vanshakti.

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In two weeks both central and state governments need to inform the Bombay High Court, the steps they have taken to protect Critical Wildlife Habitats (CWH) in Maharashtra and is there a list prepared of those animal species who are facing extinction and what are the measured adopted by the government to protect their extinction and preserving their habitat.

A division bench of justices Shantanu Kemkar and MS Karnik gave the direction while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Vanshakti. The PIL prays for directions to the governments to identify and demarcate CWH as mandated in the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

Further, it states to identify and submit a list of wildlife species that are facing extinction or threatened in their original habitats and also the measures adopted to ensure revival of such species. Maharashtra government should also take appropriate measures forbidding human and other activities dangerous or detrimental to the survival of endangered wildlife flora species.

Advocate Ahmed Abdi, appearing for the NGO, argued that this is high time to act immediately. It’s been two years since the filing of the petition but the governments have not enumerated the steps they have taken to protect the forest.

Several suggestions have been mentioned in the petition which should be followed by the government for better management of forest. The important suggestions are: steps be taken to connect sanctuaries with one another in the same ecological habitat to ensure species survival; recovery plans for revival of critically endangered species must be submitted within time frame and monitoring committee be set up to oversee its implementation; and periodic reports must be submitted to this court.

Demarcation and mapping of forest area be carried out. Use of modern technology like geo tagging and GPS be used to determine, Critical Wildlife Habitats. Relevant date pertaining to CWH be regularly uploaded on the internet/website.

After going through the minutes of the meeting conducted by the central government on August 2, the high court observed that no effective steps have been taken for identifying and demarcating CWH in and around Maharashtra. The state government also sought time to give details of the steps taken to protect CWH. Accordingly, the court granted them time till September 13.

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