Forest land encroachment by KIIT: NGT issues notice to Centre, Odisha govt

Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre and the state government over the forest land encroachment by KIIT and KIMS in Bhubaneswar.

Hearing a petition filed by Subash Mohapara, NGT, Kolkata also issued notice to the two educational institutions.

According to the petition, the Plot no 516 in PatiaMouza in Bhubaneswar tehsil having an extent of 55 acres of forest land has been encroached by KIIT and KIMS.

Further Record of Rights is in the name of Industrial Development Corporation and the same has been transferred in favour of IDCO without obtaining approval from central government as required under Forest Conservation Act 1980, alleged the petitioner.

It is also alleged in the petition that the Revenue Inspector of GA department had inspected the land in question and reported that the entire area of 26.97acres including 10.779 Acres is surrounded by compound wall and used for medical college, hospital hostel, staff quarters, playground and other related purposes.

The RI further reported that construction work of some buildings are now under progress.

Earlier, Comptroller of Auditor General in its confidential report has observed that around 34.41 Acres of forest land against which no forest clearance from MOEF had been obtained so far(as of December 2012), while a hospital building and structures were constructed on such land in blatant violation of forest conservation act 1980.