A plea seeking a stay on the construction of a link road linking Kotdwar to Ramnagar through the Corbett Tiger Reserve has led the National Green Tribunal to seek responses from the Uttarakhand government and the Centre.
A Bench headed by NGT acting chairperson Jawad Rahim on Tuesday issued show-cause notices to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, National Tiger Conservation Authority, National Board for Wildlife, NBBC (India) Limited and State government. The authorities have been asked to file their replies within two weeks.
The orders came while the green panel was hearing a plea filed by advocate Gaurav Bansal which alleged that the construction of the link road would damage the ecosystem and biodiversity of the tiger reserve.
The plea alleged that the construction of the road was in violation of previous Supreme Court orders that prohibited the construction of any road through the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
“The National Parks, sanctuaries and conversation reserves are extremely important for conservation of biodiversity and for ensuring the survival of floral and faunal components, not only for present but also for future… the decision of Uttarakhand to construct the road shall not only damage the ecosystem, biodiversity, wildlife and environment of the Corbett Tiger Reserve but shall also violate (previous orders),” read the plea.
