Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court has expressed profound “concern and shock” following reports of rampant and large-scale illegal tree felling in the Lawsohtun area of East Khasi Hills District. The environmental degradation is so severe that it has reportedly transformed the very landscape of the region, leaving the court deeply disturbed.
During a public interest litigation (PIL) hearing on Monday, Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh took suo motu cognisance of the dire situation in Lawsohtun. The court was apprised of “indiscriminate and large-scale felling of trees” by senior advocate K. Paul, prompting immediate judicial intervention.
The bench swiftly directed the petitioner to furnish an affidavit detailing the extensive environmental destruction. This move signifies the court’s firm intent to broaden the ambit of the ongoing PIL, which initially focused on tree felling in Lower New Colony, Laitumkhrah. The PIL, filed by Geraldine G. Shabong, has already seen its scope extended twice – first to encompass the entire East Khasi Hills District in April, and subsequently to all districts across the state by an order dated April 9.
The court did not mince words in its criticism of the state-appointed committee tasked with forest protection, lambasting its “passive approach.” This three-member committee, headed by the Chief Conservator of Forests and including a NEHU environment professor, has been found delegating responsibilities to Divisional Forest Officers without adequate oversight or independent verification.
“This will not do,” the court sternly remarked, highlighting that the committee has merely been rubber-stamping officers’ classifications of trees as “dead” or requiring “lopping off branches” without any personal verification. Despite reserving the right to cross-check reports, the court found that the committee had taken “little action itself” and had not conducted crucial field inspections to ascertain the ground reality.
In a strong directive, the high court has now mandated the committee to undertake random field visits and personal inspections of all trees marked for felling. “The Committee has to make visits and inspection of such trees so certified by the Divisional Forest Officer on random basis and verify the truth of the assertion of the officer,” the order unequivocally states.
Furthermore, a blanket ban has been imposed on all tree felling and even branch lopping until proper verification procedures are completed. The only exceptions will be for trees posing “imminent danger to life or property or both.” The committee has been specifically instructed to thoroughly investigate the allegations from Lawsohtun and present a comprehensive report by July 18. The next hearing for the case is scheduled for July 22.
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