NEW DELHI, Dec 3 ? Assam Government?s indifference to illegal cutting of trees is likely to land it in a soup, with the Supreme Court today calling for a status report on Rani Reserve Forest from an independent agency.
Alarmed by reports of devastation suffered by Rani Reserve Forest following massive felling of trees, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice SK Sabarwal, Justice Arijit Pasayat, Justice SH Kapadia, in a response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) ordered Regional Chief Conservator of Forest, Shillong, a Central Government agency to file a status report within four weeks on the Reserve Forest.
The petitioner, Autri Bhattacharyya, owner of Rani Tea Estate through his counsellor, advocate Manish Goswami contended that large-scale deforestation has destroyed the reserve forest, which has a special eco-system. he alleged that large scale felling of trees by timber smugglers in connivance with local politician has destroyed the reserve forest.
He also brought to the notice of the Supreme Court that though the matter was brought to the notice of the State Government several times, it has so far failed to respond. Sri Bhattacharyya?s plea was that the matter should be probed by an independent agency and the guilty should be punished.