Shivani Gadhavi
Published On: February 01, 2022 at 16:57 IST
The Bombay High Court on January 31, 2022 ordered the State Authorities of Maharashtra to submit a report on identification of Mangroves for transfer of Mangrove covered areas to the Forest Department, and also directed that timeline regarding the actions taken to transfer should be mentioned in the report.
The Bombay High Court Division Bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice V G Bisht was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2021, by a non-profit organization called Vanashakti. The Petition alleged ‘Willful negligence’ on part of the State Authorities regarding misuse of mangrove covered areas. The Petition also sought transfer of 1,600 hectares of mangrove covered land to the Forest Department.
The Bombay High Court had passed an order in 2018, in which it had stated that all mangrove covered areas should be transferred to the Forest Department and that those areas should be declared as ‘Forest’ areas. The Petition alleged that the State Government of Maharashtra did not comply with the order of the High Court.
The Counsel for the Petitioner, Advocate Zaman Ali, stated that there were no measures taken by the Divisional Commissioner of Konkan Region, as it was decided in an agenda from a meeting held on July 26, 2021.
However, the Counsel for the State Government Manish M Pable argued that via instructions given by the Konkan Divisional Commissioner, steps were taken by the State Authorities.
The Bombay High Court in this regard stated that the State Authorities are to submit separate Affidavits by February 10, 2022 and adjourned the matter till February 16, 2022.
Also read: Right to Healthy Environment
