Srinagar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Jammu and Kashmir government and the Director of NIT Srinagar, seeking detailed responses regarding the proposed construction of a new National Institute of Technology (NIT) campus at Newa area of Pulwama.
This action follows a petition filed over environmental concerns, specifically the felling of thousands of trees and the potential threat to local wildlife.
The petition was submitted by RTI and environmental activist Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, through his counsel Advocate Saurabh Sharma. Dr. Bhat has requested the NGT’s intervention to prevent the destruction of thousands of fruit and non-fruit bearing trees in the 4,500 kanals of Karewa land, which is shared by seven villages in Newa and surrounding areas.
In his original application, the petitioner highlighted that the area in question serves as a habitat for summer migratory birds, including the European bee-eater, Kashmir flycatcher, white-capped bunting (Emberiza stewarti), common cuckoo, Jacobin cuckoo, and the Himalayan red fox. Other species such as porcupines and leopards are also found there.
The case was listed before the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. The bench issued notices to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, the Director of NIT Srinagar, Chairman of the J&K Biodiversity Council, the Chief Wildlife Warden, and the Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama.
The bench, consisting of Justice Prakash Srivastava (NGT Chairperson), Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi (Judicial Member), and Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati (Expert Member), directed the Director of NIT Srinagar to disclose the complete construction plan for the NIT campus, including the number of trees slated for removal.
The order reads: “Issue notice on OA and IA to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit before the Tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing through e-filing. If any respondent directly files the reply without routing it through their advocate, the said respondent will remain virtually present to assist the Tribunal. The Applicant is directed to serve the respondents and file an affidavit of service at least one week before the next date of hearing. Respondent No. 5 (Director NIT Srinagar) is directed to disclose the entire plan of construction for the NIT campus and the number of trees to be cut down during the construction process, along with its reply affidavit.”
The next hearing is scheduled for August 1, 2025.
Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, who has previously filed several petitions before the NGT on various environmental issues, expressed satisfaction with the tribunal’s order—(KNO)
Comments are closed.