No permission to clear forest reserves around Wilpattu ; forestry body informs court

The Forest Conservation Department today (Jul 22) informed court in writing that permission would not be granted to clear forest lands in the Kallaru reserve surrounding the Wilpattu national park.

An assurance from the Department’s Director General had been submitted through a State Counsel appearing for the Attorney General (AG), after a petition which was filed against the alleged deforestation of the forest reserve was taken up at the Appeal Court.

Court had previously instructed the AG, who is a respondent to the petition, to report facts over this matter after inquiring from the Director General of the Forest Conservation Department.

During today’s hearing, court instructed the State Counsel to submit a copy of this assurance to former minister Rishad Bathiudeen who is also a respondent to the case.

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) had petitioned against the resettlement of families in the forest reserve which is located 400 metres from the Wilpattu national park, which they argued was taking place at the cost of causing massive deforestation in the area.

Accordingly, the CEJ sought an interim order from court to halt the deforestation which was taking place in these areas.

The petitioner argued that a five-year imprisonment term and a fine not more than Rs 100,000 could be imposed on the suspects found guilty over the case for violating the Forest Conservation Ordinance.

Further hearing on the petition was fixed for July 31.

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