Bombay HC orders stay on tree felling at Dodamarg

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has ordered a stay on felling of trees at Dodamarg taluka of Sindhudurg district, which is known for its tiger corridor.

Environmentalists have raised concerns over skipping the tiger core area as an eco-sensitive zone of the Western ghats. While hearing a petition by NGO Vanashakti, the court gave a stay on cutting of trees and asked clarification from the centre on the matter.

The high court sought clarification from the Union environment ministry as to how the villages connecting the Radhanagri wildlife sanctuary under the Dodamarg taluka of Sindhudurg, which is a core tiger corridor, has been left as an eco-sensitive zone in the recent notification by the ministry pertaining to preservation of the Western ghats.  

The order stated that it is not convinced with the ministry’s reason to not include the corridor and asked the MoEF to provide a statement in next hearing.

“Tenders for mining blocks have been invited in the Banda Talukain Sindhudurg well within the Western Ghats. This will result in mass felling of trees,” said Stalin Dayanand, Vanas-hakti project director.