Forest Advisory News Today

After over a year-long pause, the Centre has finally given the green signal for the renotification of the critical Mandal Thang Field Firing range in Ladakh, paving the way for its immediate reactivation. A go-ahead was also given for the renewal of the Asan firing range at the intersection of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Both approvals came late last month from the green panels in the Union Environment ministry.

Even before the clearance was granted, Khattar announced that a “jungle safari park” in the Aravallis will be funded by compensatory afforestation for cutting down nearly a million trees in the Andamans.

The government has deleted a key clause on a gram sabha seeking consent from local populations before diverting forest land.

According to experts, apart from the ecological threats that the 3,097 MW project poses, there is also a lack of transparency in the approval process.