Nagpur: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), principal bench, Delhi, on Tuesday expressed ‘anguish’ by the quality of report submitted by Maharashtra forest department on mitigation measures for string of road projects cutting Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) corridors.TOI on November 29, 2018 had reported how cluster of road widening projects falling in the buffer and proposed eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of TATR were threatening tigers and their dispersal paths.The tribunal sought an action taken report (ATR) by February 28, 2019. The state also set up a committee to conduct regular meetings and visit the project sites as per need and submit compliance report.The matter was heard on Tuesday for consideration of the report. Presiding over the hearing, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice Ramakrishnan and expert member Dr Nagin Nanda after considering the report submitted by state forest department expressed that they were “anguished by the quality of report submitted — because it is clear that mitigation measures are required but none have been identified or incorporated in the plan.”“In view of the above the report doesn’t meet expectations of the tribunal. It fails to properly address the human-tiger conflicts that happen in the area,” the bench said.The NGT then directed additional director general (ADG) for forest with MoEFCC to oversee the implementation of mitigation measures which disturbs the tiger corridors in Maharashtra and submit action taken report.The bench also directed chief secretary of Bharatmala Project to talk to chief wildlife warden to implement the mitigation steps.The order of NGT is binding as a decree of court and non-compliance is actionable by way of punitive action including prosecution, in terms of the NGT Act, 2010.After NGT rap, the Maharashtra government had constituted a nine-member committee on January 10 under PCCF (HOFF). The committee included PCCF (wildlife), PWD and NHAI officials and experts from WII and NTCA. However, none of the members shared the report which was sent to NGT through e-mail, though it is a public document now.“We have not received the committee report on mitigation measures. It must have been sent directly to NGT,” said state forest ministry officials.

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