National Green Tribunal’s southern bench has granted an interim stay on felling of coconut trees in Agatti Island in Lakshadweep for the purpose of forming a beach road. It has constituted a committee to find out whether there has been any violation of the Integrated Island Management Plan of Lakshadweep.
The bench of Justice K. Ramakrishnan and expert member Saibal Dasgupta directed the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and the Lakshadweep Public Works Department to maintain status quo as of July 30.
The applicant, Agatti Island Kera Karshaka Sanghom, moved the Tribunal alleging that the administration was indiscriminately cutting down coconut trees for forming a beach road, which was against the Integrated Island Management Plan of Lakshadweep.
The applicant submitted that due to the large scale cutting of the coconut trees for the project, the local residents lost their income.
It would also affect the environment as trees, standing along the coastline, acted as a green belt to protect the land during cyclones and other natural calamities.
Due to the large scale cutting of the coconut trees, local residents are affected by losing income from the tree produces.
It also poses an environmental challenge because the trees on the coastline act as a green belt to protect the rest of the island during cyclones and other natural calamities.
Agatti Island is situated on a coral atoll called Agatti atoll in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India. It is 459 km (285 mi) west of the city of Kochi.
It has an area of 3.84 sq km and has a north-east, south-west trend with a long tail on the south.
The lagoon area of this island is 17.50 sq km and there is plenty of coral growth and multicoloured coral fishes in the lagoons.
Fishing is the most important industry of Agatti which is perhaps the only island besides Minicoy getting surplus fish. Next to fishing, coir (coconut fibre) and copra (dried meat or kernel of the coconut) are the main industries.
The National Green Tribunal is a specialised body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010) for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
The Tribunal comprises of the Chairperson, the Judicial Members and Expert Members. They shall hold office for term of five years and are not eligible for reappointment.
The Tribunal has jurisdiction over all civil cases involving substantial question relating to environment (including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment).
Over the years NGT has emerged as a critical player in environmental regulation, passing strict orders on issues ranging from pollution to deforestation to waste management.
