NGT issues notice over declining forest cover in Centre and 4 NE states, seeks reply

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 27, 2025

The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, and Mizoram, along with the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, directing them to file affidavits regarding the alarming decline of forest cover in Assam by 83.92 square kilometres between 2021 and 2023.

NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr. Afroz Ahmad instructed the respondents to submit their replies via affidavit at least a week before the next hearing, scheduled for January 29. The Tribunal emphasized that any direct submission of replies without legal representation would require the concerned officials to be virtually present for clarification.

The Tribunal’s action follows a media report citing data from the India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023), which revealed a collective forest loss of 327.30 square kilometres across the northeastern states during this period. Mizoram recorded the highest decline, losing 178.42 square kilometres of forest cover. The report highlights a worrying trend, particularly in Assam’s “recorded forest area,” which saw a reduction of 86.66 square kilometres, along with 1,699 square kilometres of degraded canopy density—signalling deteriorating forest quality.

Arunachal Pradesh, despite leading Indian states in carbon stock with 1,021 million tonnes, has suffered a staggering 1,084 square kilometres of forest cover loss. Mizoram and Nagaland reported losses of 987 and 794 square kilometres, respectively.

Forest cover in Assam decreases by 86.22 sq km: ISFR 2023

The decline in forest cover has triggered serious environmental concerns, including threats to biodiversity, ecosystem imbalance, and reduced climate resilience. Of particular concern is Tripura’s large-scale conversion of natural forests into monoculture rubber plantations, which has disrupted ecological stability and posed severe risks to biodiversity.

The ISFR 2023 report suggests potential violations of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The findings underscore critical issues related to compliance with environmental norms and the enforcement of key ecological protection laws.