DESTRUCTION OF BIODIVERSITY - NGT issues warrant against panchayat secy

KOCHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued an arrest warrant against Kunnathunad's grama pan chayat secretary for not responding to its summons.The warrant, however, is bailable; the bail amount was set at Rs 25,000 Hearing a petition filed by K S Ravindran Nair seeking a freeze on the destruction of a biodiversity spot in the panchayat, the court directed the secretary to be present at the next hearing.
The bench of Justice P Jyothimani, judicial member and expert committee member Ranjan Chatterjee, restrained the felling of any tree in the area.
With the secretary not appearing before the court, the court expressed the view that to prevent damage to the biodiversity in the area, `there will be an order of status quo which exists as on date and it shall be maintained. The district collector shall ensure the compliance of this order scrupulously and file a status report on the next hearing on November 25,“ it said. The NGT, on May 23, had directed the panchayat not to cut any trees along the pond and that order was extended on August 8.
The petitioner had contended that the biodiversity spot was an ancient sacred grove which housed several endangered tree species and migratory birds.
He submitted that panchayat officials ­ in the guise of bringing a drinking water project ­ were attempting to damage biodiversity in an area spanning 55 cents and a pond. The petition said that there were 68 species of endangered plants which are to be protected. He sought an interim order to stop the felling of trees and draining out the huge water body which was the source of underground water to several wells and agriculture farms in the area.
The state pollution control board and the state biodiversity board have been made respondents in the case.