Government’s Response Needed: Safeguarding Forests

In a recent inquiry, the Delhi High Court has solicited the stance of the Central government regarding a plea concerning the deployment of a protective force for safeguarding the capital’s woodlands from illicit activities or incursions by land usurpers and criminal syndicates. The court’s directive ensued from a petition urging the Central administration to station a sufficient cadre of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers within the Delhi government’s Forests and Wildlife Department.

The Chief Conservator of Forests, in response, highlighted the ongoing predicament faced by forest officials due to constant threats posed by land usurpers and criminal syndicates who brazenly encroach upon woodland territories. A proposition has been put forth for engaging the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in woodland regions. Nonetheless, the Union’s counsel contended that CISF regulations preclude such deployments.

Justice Subramonium Prasad, in a recent edict, instructed the counsel for the Union of India to ascertain the feasibility of deploying alternative forces to ensure the prevention of illicit activities or encroachments in forested areas perpetrated by land usurpers and criminal syndicates. The petitioner had implored the court to urgently deploy personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to assist and safeguard the lives of frontline forestry personnel and to protect the reserved and protected woodlands of the capital. Additionally, the court dismissed the Delhi government’s entreaty for waiving the previously imposed penalty of Rs 50,000 for its failure to furnish a response.

Given the persistent non-compliance with court directives, the court deemed it inappropriate to waive the penalty and instructed the city administration to remit the sum to the ‘Green Delhi Account’ within a fortnight. Furthermore, the court stipulated that the funds be utilized for the cultivation of Pilkhan, Amaltas, Peepal, Goolar, Kadam, and Neem trees, with a nursery age of four years.

The petitioner sought directives to ensure the protection of forest rangers, guards, and other field personnel of the State Forest Department by enhancing their protective gear, firearms, and manpower. The petitioner, represented by attorneys Gautam Narayan and Aditya N Prasad, emphasized the perilous conditions faced by the staff while carrying out their statutory duties in the capital. It underscored the right to a clean and healthy environment enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution.

Furthermore, the petition called for the establishment of a dedicated training institution by the Delhi government and the creation of forest stations across all forest divisions in the city, akin to those in Kerala, to bolster the effective protection and management of forests and wildlife. It urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to promptly deploy an adequate contingent of Central Armed Police Forces personnel to reinforce the Department of Forests and safeguard the city’s reserved and protected woodlands. The proceedings are scheduled to resume in May.