Forest dept. seeks closure of proceedings in Pampa sand removal case
The Hindu
NGT had taken suo motu notice of The Hindu report
The State Forest Department has urged the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to close the proceedings in the case related to the removal of sand from Triveni at Pampa River in the foothills of Sabarimala in May last year.
The counsel for the department informed the court that the Government-owned Kerala Clays and Ceramics Products Ltd. had moved only a negligible quantity of sand and silt out of the forest area and it was done in good faith to facilitate the Sabarimala pilgrim season.
The Southern Bench of the tribunal had taken suo motu notice of The Hindu report titled ‘Forest dept. told to permit sand removal from Pampa’ published on May 30, 2020. The court had asked the State respondents to file their independent responses to the circumstances under which the National Disaster Management Act was invoked for de-silting without following the necessary procedures.