NGT Issues Notices to Govt Officials over Eco-Sensitive Shivalik Region

May

2026

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the deputy commissioners of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Rupnagar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Gurdaspur and Pathankot to place on record the documents pertaining to demarcation of land delisted from the provisions of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA). NGT passed the order on a petition challenging the Low Impact Green Habitats (LIGH) policy notified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the delisted PLPA areas. In the petition, Jaskirat Singh, a representative of Public Action Committee, drew the attention of the tribunal towards a meeting held on 26 Apr 2010, under the chairmanship of the Panjab Chief Secretary in which it was decided that demarcation of delisted areas would be carried out using National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority funds. However, after 15 years no such demarcation was done and in its absence, hundreds of illegal buildings and permanent structures reportedly mushroomed in the ecologically sensitive Shivalik foothills and Kandi belt regions, violating the directions of the Supreme Court of India and the Punjab Eco-Tourism Policy 2018, which does not permit permanent constructions in delisted zones. The petitioners alleged that Shivam Sinha—son of Panjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha—also owned land in the same area, among other government officials. The applicants said that the LIGH policy permitted approval and regularization of construction activities on de-listed PLPA and forest-influenced land which was otherwise meant only for bona-fide agriculture and livelihood purposes. The NGT has issued notice to Principal Secretary (Housing and Urban Development) Vikas Garg and others in the matter. Additionally, two leopards were spotted at the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary during a wildlife survey. The leopards were captured on a camera trap in the reserve forest for the first time. Subsequently, the Gurdaspur police have arrested a major supplier of illegal pet parrots who targeted the town’s elite, selling ‘speaking parrots’ for USD 42 and ‘non-speaking’ ones for USD 31. Meanwhile, Punjab Pollution Control Board has appealed to the management committees of religious places in Fatehgarh Sahib district to not use single-use plastic bags for the distribution of karah prasad (traditional offering) and other items (earlier coverage).