A Bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and A.G. Masih heard the suo motu case regarding environmental violations. The court has scheduled the next hearing for May 15, granting Telangana four weeks to respond to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report. Additionally, the state’s wildlife warden has been instructed to explain steps taken to safeguard displaced animals.
The Supreme Court has taken serious note of this alarming situation and converted the matter into a suo motu writ petition titled In Re: Kancha Gachibowli Forest, State of Telangana. The Court has directed the Chief Secretary of Telangana to respond to several critical questions, including the rationale for initiating developmental activities without completing mandated assessments under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023.
The report also highlighted the presence of wildlife in the area, including peacocks, deer, and various bird species, emphasizing the ecological significance of the forest. Approximately 100 acres of the forest have already been destroyed, with a lake situated beside the deforested area serving as a habitat for deer and other wildlife.
Mindless Deforestation: Supreme Court Imposes Hefty Fine of Rs 1 lakh per tree. In a recent case involving the cutting of 454 trees within the protected Taj Trapezium Zone, the court imposed a stringent penalty of Rs 1 lakh per tree to deter such actions and ensure ecological accountability.
The Supreme Court’s verdict came in response to a petition filed by Rao B. Chelikani, challenging the government’s land allocations to various housing societies, including those for public representatives, officials, and journalists within the GHMC area. The court found the allocations to be improper and ordered their cancellation
