SC permits MoEF to consider FAC diverting forest land

New Delhi, Jun 13 (UNI) The Supreme Court today allowed the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to consider the decision of Forest Advisory Committee(FAC) permitting diversion of eight point 832 hectares of forest land for shifting of three towers of Vishnuprayag Muzaffarnagar transmission line.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and PP Naolekar issued the directions after hearing the counsel for the applicant who told the court that the Centrally Empowered Committee (CEC) and FAC have already permitted the diversion of the forest land situated in district Chamoli in Uttarakhand.

According to the petitioners three towers of executing 400 kv line of Vishnuprayag project have been heavily damaged due to heavy sinking/settlement on hill slopes.

The land is situated outside National Park/Wildlife Sanctuary and involves felling of 177 trees of Chir, Deodar,Kail and Sarai and approval of MoEF is a must before the diversion of land.

FAC had approved the project on April 17,2008.

UNI SC NY BD2037