Itanagar, Feb 8: A day after the Banderdewa Forest Range office alleged illegal felling of mature trees in the Drupong Reserve Forest by the Public Works Department for 4-laning work of NH415 without obtaining forest clearance,  the Deputy Commissioner Capital Itanagar Talo Potom  convened a meeting with all the stakeholders with regard to  the 4-laning work of NH-415 (Pkg B & Pkg-C) in presence of  MLA Techi Kaso and Mayor IMC Tame Phassang today.
Kaso in the meeting informed that the present road has existed for past many decades even before the enactment of Forest (Conservation) Act 1980. Stating that the plantations within Right of Way (RoW) of NH 415 are under the Highway Department, he requested the Divisional Forest Officer, Banderdewa to allow the executing agency and contractor to work smoothly within 30 metre of RoW without further intervention for the greater benefit of the public.
The Deputy Commissioner informed that in reference to Ministry of Environment, Govt of India’s letter, Forest and climate changes (Forest Conservation Division) which stated that “if the ownership of land vests with MoRT&H/NHAI/State Road constructing agency, it is not a ‘forest’ as per Government records and the same land is under ‘non-forest use’ before 25th October 1980, then provision of Forest (conservation Act 1980 would not apply”, and accordingly a file has been submitted to the Chief Secretary and the PCCF office had consented accordingly. 
The DC further informed that the DFO Banderdewa during the discussion held on 22 December 2020 in the office chamber of chief secretary and under the chairmanship of chief secretary in the presence of PCCF cum principal secretary, Environment Forest and Climate Change, had agreed to allow the construction within the RoW of Package C. 
The DFO Banderdewa had submitted the notification of Drupong Reserve Forest along with the map of the Drupong RF which indicated the existence of the highway during the period of publication of gazette notification dated 16th August 1978.
Hence, Forest Corporation Act (FCA)1980 shall not be applicable in the package C within RoW and justified that no forest official and officers shall claim any asset within the RoW of NH415 under FCA 1980 in package C, the DC said.
Further the felling of trees by constructing agencies and PWD Highway Department in the presence of officials of district administration Itanagar Capital Complex on 7 February 2020 and other officials on duty should not be held liable for any act of theirs under FCA 1980 as stated and justified above, he said.
The MLA and Mayor both expressed displeasure at the slow progress of work due to lack of coordination amongst the forest department and executing agencies. 
Mentioning the limited working season of the state, the Mayor requested the working agencies of Package-B & Package-C to utilise the time efficiently and expedite the work to complete within the time frame. Stressing on maintaining work quality, he said proper check on accountability of work done by the contractors of both the packages will be done.
A joint inspection of package B & C of NH-415 will be carried out on February 10 next from Papunallah - Jollang Tri Junction to Banderdewa.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
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