மதுரை: வனப்பகுதியில் கடந்த 10 ஆண்டுகளில் ஏற்பட்ட தீ விபத்துகள் எத்தனை? என்று உயர்நீதிமன்றம் கேள்வி எழுப்பியுள்ளது. உலக வங்கி நிதியில் எவ்வளவு செலவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது ?. அந்த நிதி மூலம் நடவு செய்யப்பட்ட மரங்கள் எவ்வளவு? என மத்திய,மாநில அரசுகளுக்கு உயர்நீதிமன்றம் கேள்வி எழுப்பியுள்ளது. மேலும் மாநில வாரியாக மத்திய அரசும்,மாவட்ட வாரியாக மாநில அரசும் பதிலளிக்க உயர்நீதிமன்றம் மதுரைக்கிளை உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.
News in English
Centre and State government were asked to answer queries on the extent of deforestation by Madras High Court
Madurai : Agreeing with the concerns raised by a public interest litigation petition on the need to safeguard forest areas, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court put forth a set of 10 questions for the Centre and State to respond.
A Division Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and S. S.Sundar observed that the court was aware that forest areas were being encroached upon for commercial and even residential purposes. Deforestation was taking place without any control and officials who were supposed to safeguard the forest simply stood witness to the mindless felling of trees, the court said.
The Centre and State government were asked to answer queries on the extent of deforestation, efforts taken to plant trees and safeguard the planted trees and whether there were sufficient staff employed to safeguard the forests.
The court asked the Centre to respond on the assistance provided to presere forests and if any such project was implemented with aid of the World Bank. Details on State-wise break up of forest fires and steps taken to prevent them were also sought. The case was adjourned to April 8.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by advocate B. Stalin from Madurai who sought a direction to safeguard forests. He also sought a direction to implement Cattle Trespass Act by preventing people from trespassing into protected forest areas for pasturing cattle.
