[Assam] Press release on behalf of Garo Students Union, Khasi Hills Zone

[Nayanjyoti Medhi]

The illegal felling of trees and illegal operation of Sawmills in Meghalaya
has assumed such wide and significant proportion that the said illegal
operation of saw mills and also illegal felling of trees has resulted in
severe public outcry in the State. The common conscious citizens of the
country have reasons to be anxious in the face of gross mismanagement of the
entire forest cover and resources of the State. The entire episode has now
attained higher proportions in view of some recent developments which prima
facie reveal the intention of the authorities manning the affairs of the
State to help in achievement of undue gains to a few individuals at the cost
of the Environment, depleting the Forest resources and Public Interest, and
environmental safety. A PIL was filed by Advocate Nayanjyoti Medhi on behalf
of the Garo Students Union through the Khasi Hills Zone President Sanjeeb A
Sangma and General Secretary Alex R Marak  praying for urgent judicial
intervention of the Gauhati High Court into the illegal operation of
sawmills and also illegal felling of trees in the State of Meghalaya, more
particularly in the Garo Hills region and the subsequent inaction by the
department of forest and other authorities in the State of Meghalaya to
ensure strict compliance of the Hon'ble Apex Court's orders passed in
W.P202 of 1995 [
T.N. Godavarman Thirumulkpad versus Union of India]. It was prayed on behalf
of the Garo Students Union that if Gauhati High Court does not urgently
interfere to close down the illegal saw mills operating in the State of
Meghalaya and monitor the entire conservation of natural forests,
protection, forest rehabilitation, regeneration, afforestation,
reforestation and new plantations, with a view to maintaining or restoring
the ecological balance, the State will soon have depleted the entire forest
cover leading to environmental imbalances of catastrophic proportions. The
Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice Shri Jasti Chelameshwar and
Justice Hrishikesh Roy has admitted the petition and issued notice to the
Government of Meghalaya which was accepted by Government Advocate of
Meghalaya Sri Ratul Goswami.

Further details may be had from Sanjeeb A Sangma at +91 98630 22587 or +91
94363 13284

-- 
Nayanjyoti Medhi
Advocate

Chamber:
Satya Bora Lane, Dighalipukhuri East
Guwahati-781001, Assam


Phone:
+91 361 2416960
+91 94350 43007

Email:
nayanjyoti.medhi at gmail.com