The Forest Minister also said the government will approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT), seeking additional time to demarcate and notify private forest area in the State. The report has to be submitted by end of this month.
“I have told the department that I need time to study the report. Even the Chief Minister, who is new, and the newly appointed Advocate General, needs time to understand this. We just cannot submit the report without hearing the stakeholders,” Sardesai said.
Following NGT directions, Sardesai said that government had last year constituted a committee to review the private forest findings of the Sawant and Karapurkar committee. The committee has to assess the areas of 42.12 sq kms identified as Private Forest by Sawant and Karapurkar committee, nearly a decade back.
