The National Green Tribunal today directed the Uttarakhand government to file an affidavit with regard to the rehabilitation of villagers living inside the eco-sensitive Rajaji National Park in the state. The plea had contended that in 1983, MoEF and Uttarakhand government had issued a notification and established the Rajaji national park. The villagers had then raised objections, following which some committees were constituted and after a few meetings resolutions were adopted for taking necessary steps to exclude revenue chaks from the national park area. However till date, the authorities have not taken any decision regarding exclusion of the revenue chaks from the national park, the plea had said. It had sought the exclusion of all revenue village 'chaks' from the boundaries of the Rajaji National Park and provision of basic facilities to these estates which are not excluded from boundaries of the National Park.

Source: dna August 18, 2017 12:00 UTC