Port Blair: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata, has taken cognisance of allegations that Protected Forest land in the Nicobar district was allotted and diverted for non-forestry purposes without mandatory approval from the Central Government, and has issued notices to the concerned authorities after finding that the matter raises substantial environmental concerns.
Hearing the Original Application, filed by Naresh Chaudhary, the Tribunal observed that the plea prima facie involves significant environmental issues relating to the diversion and utilisation of land notified as Protected Forest in violation of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 (formerly the Forest Conservation Act). It directed the respondents to file their replies before the next hearing on August 14.
The application seeks a declaration that all allotments within Protected Forests in Nicobar require prior approval of the Central Government and urges the Tribunal to restrain authorities from processing or approving non-forest use of such land without statutory clearance. It also seeks an inquiry into alleged instances of unauthorised allotment and utilisation of Protected Forest land.
The plea cites official correspondence, including a June 10, 2025 letter from the Divisional Forest Officer, Nicobar, raising objections to the construction of rainfed ponds under the Mission Amrit Sarovar scheme, and alleges that the issue was later discussed by the Andaman & Nicobar Land Allotment Committee (ANLAC), which reportedly recommended land allotments without insisting on prior Central approval.
In an interim relief, the NGT also restrained the Superintendent of Police, Nicobar, from acting on a January 29, 2026 letter issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar, seeking action against the Divisional Forest Officer, holding that no action should be taken in violation of the environmental laws covered under the National Green Tribunal Act until further orders.
The case is scheduled to come up for further hearing on August 14, 2026.
