A part of the Sundarbans delta on the Bay of Bengal. , Photo Credit: Reuters
The National Green Tribunal has directed the West Bengal authorities to demolish a hotel built in the Sundarbans in violation of environmental norms.
The tribunal was hearing a matter relating to permission to construct a hotel in the Sundarbans, to which the West Bengal State Coastal Zone Management Authority (WBCZMA) had raised objections.
A bench of Chairperson Justice AK Goel noted that the Sundarbans Coastal Regulation Zone was a Critically Vulnerable Coastal Area (CVCA) under the notifications and no construction was permissible in the CVCA.
“We uphold the stand of WBCZMA and declare the constructions done by the project proponent as illegal. A joint committee comprising WBSCZMA, District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) may ensure demolition of illegal constructions and restoration of the area within three months from today,” the bench comprising Justices Sudhir Agarwal and B. Amit Sthalekar along with experts Member A. Senthil Vel said.
The Bench said that Mangroves protect life and property By obstructing strong winds and tidal action.
“Mangroves…provide important ecosystem services for flood protection in coastal areas and also benefit the region economically and the construction of concrete structures near the coast changes its geological characteristics and destroys the mangrove ecosystem irreversibly. causes damage,” it said.
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The bench noted that the project proponent had started construction illegally in April 2019 but sought post facto CRZ approval for the first time in July 2021.
Referring to a 1996 judgment of the Supreme Court, the bench underlined that the apex court had disallowed the reduction of the no-construction zone from 100 meters to 50 meters with regard to ecological considerations to protect the coastal zone.
The tribunal also took note of its earlier observations, which had said, “The Sunderbans, which is surrounded by mangrove forests, is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger…a wide variety of birds, reptiles and wildlife, including the saltwater crocodile.” Home to a large variety of invertebrate species…Sunderbans is declared as a National Park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site…and a designated Ramsar site.
The green panel also said that areas near the sea are likely to be affected by climate change and therefore a reasonable distance from the sea should be maintained for any construction.