Sukhvilas row: Frame policy for resorts, say forest officers

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 9

Top officials are of the view that a policy should be framed to deal with suspected violations of environment laws at Sukhvilas luxury resort, New Chandigarh, and other such cases.

This follows a demi-official letter in this connection by Punjab’s Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Hills, to the Divisional Forest Officer, Mohali.

A part of Sukhvilas resort is still ‘locked’ under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900.

The matter was taken up in a meeting today. Additional Chief Secretary (Forests and Wildlife Protection) DP Reddy discussed the matter with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and other department officials.

Officials said the government should frame a policy in all cases, in which approvals had been granted under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980, but the land continues to be ‘locked’ under the PLPA.

Under the ‘Schedule of Compensation Rates’ of the Punjab Forest Manual, there is a provision to compound (imposing fine) cases of tree felling in areas ‘locked’ under Sections 4 and 5 of the PLPA. But other kinds of violations (division of land and construction activity) cannot be compounded, and the authorities are required to initiate prosecution. Part of the resort has construction on it, but it was cleared only under the FCA.

Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot has called a meeting of the department on the matter tomorrow. He has summoned record from the department for the meeting.

A senior officer said, “As the matter of suspected violation of environmental laws at Sukhvilas resort has been raised, there is a need to take clarification from the Union Ministry of Environment. While giving clearance under the FCA, the ministry writes about responsibility of the state Forest Department to enforce conditions of the clearance under state laws. The land has to be either de-listed from the PLPA or some other clearance is required.”

A section of forest officers say diversion of forestland under the FCA does not imply clearance under the PLPA. They add these are two separate laws, and both are applicable.

The PLPA is applicable to agricultural, horticultural and forestland, where there is soil erosion.