Jaipur: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Rajasthan forest department to take possession of over 2.9 hectares of land in Beer Papad village, Jaipur, within 30 days, holding that forest land cannot be used for non-forest purposes without prior approval of Centre.The direction came in an order dated Sept 8, uploaded Wednesday, on a petition filed by Kamal Kant Tiwari, who challenged the alleged use of the land in Beer Papad by RIICO for an industrial area.NGT’s Central Zone Bench in Bhopal, comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, underscored that RIICO failed to demonstrate any legitimate transfer of the land to it, saying, “The land Khasra No 7/2… is recorded in the name of Forest Department.” The tribunal emphasised that forest land cannot be utilised for non-forest activities without central approval as mandated by the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.The tribunal’s observations were bolstered by a joint survey conducted by forest and revenue officials, which revealed the land had developed into a dense industrial zone. It was noted that RIICO recommended the allotment of land after the surrounding industrial area had matured.Additionally, NGT dismissed RIICO’s claims of a 1971 govt order releasing the land for industrial use, reiterating that any unauthorised transfer was “void from inception” and could not be legitimised by subsequent actions.The tribunal raised alarms over forest land encroachment in Rajasthan, directing Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to hold accountable officials who failed to safeguard the forest area and facilitated illegal encroachments.Furthermore, home department was instructed to assist in the land recovery process, with Rs 50,000 awarded in litigation costs to Tiwari—split between RIICO and the forest department. “The tribunal disposed of the original application and pending interlocutory applications with these directions,” advocate Vaibhav Pancholy, representing Tiwari, said.
