Teesha –
The Gauhati High Court on 1st June, stayed the proceedings in Nabdi Daulagupu village for the purpose of compensatory afforestation.
The stay order came in after a petition was filed by seven individuals, seeking appropriate order to protect their land which was supposed to be acquired for the purpose of compensatory afforestation, required for the setting up of a 120 MW Lower Kopili Hydro Electric Project at Longku.
Justice N. Kotiswar Singh observed that though North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) authorities is seeking to exclude petitioner’s village from the compensatory afforestation project but the petitioners apprehended that in spite of such a proposal, the matter had not been finalised yet and hence their land may be acquired for the purpose of compensatory afforestation.
The standing counsel for North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council said that he would like to take more definitive instructions in this regard.
The order further read, “If that is so, the interim prayer can be considered on the next date. However, till then, it is provided that the status quo as regards the petitioners’ village for the purpose of compensatory afforestation in terms of the communication dated 01.06.2019 shall be maintained.”