The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered all encroachments to be removed from Gujarat’s Banni grasslands.

Banni Grasslands

• Banni Grasslands form a belt of arid grassland ecosystem on the outer southern edge of the desert of the marshy salt flats of Rann of Kutch.
• They are known for rich wildlife and biodiversity and are spread across an area of 3,847 square kilometers. Two ecosystems, wetlands and grasslands, are juxtaposed in Banni.
• They are currently legally protected under the status as a protected or reserve forest in India.
• Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has identified this grassland reserve as one of the last remaining habitats of the cheetah in India and a possible reintroduction site for the species.
• The region hosts a nomadic pastoralist community, the Maldharis, whose livelihoods depend on this protected shrub-savanna.

Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

Q.Which one of the following is the correct sequence of ecosystems in the order of decreasing productivity?(CSP 2014)

(a) Oceans, lakes, grasslands, mangroves

(b) Mangroves, oceans, grasslands, lakes

(c) Mangroves, grasslands, lakes, oceans

(d) Oceans, mangroves, lakes, grasslands

What is the recent NGT verdict?

• The court also said the Maldharis will continue to hold the right to conserve the community forests in the area, granted to them as per the provisions in Section 3 of Forest Rights Act, 2006.
• NGT highlighted that the lack of coordination between the forest department and the revenue department lead to the problem of encroachment.
• The grassland was first declared a “protected forest” in May 1955, using the nomenclature of the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
• Since then, the actual transfer of the land from the Revenue department to the Forest department has not been completed.

Back2Basics: National Green Tribunal

• The NGT has been established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.
• It works for:

1. effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection
2. conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and
3. giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto

• It is not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
• The Tribunal’s dedicated jurisdiction in environmental matters shall provide speedy environmental justice and help reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts.
• The Tribunal is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.
• Initially, the NGT is proposed to be set up at five places of sittings and will follow circuit procedure for making itself more accessible.
• New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four place of sitting of the Tribunal.

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