Keralam's Chalakudy forest clearances face Supreme Court scrutiny

Greens claim up to 20,000 trees may be cut for installing solar fence in the area. Supreme Court-constituted Central Empowered Committee earlier directed Keralam Forest department and VACB to jointly submit their response

Source

The Hindu — Science & Tech →

Quick Revision

Prelims-testable facts

01The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) is a Supreme Court-constituted body responsible for monitoring forest-related issues in India.
02The CEC has directed the Kerala Forest Department and the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to jointly submit their response regarding forest 'violations' in the Chalakudy division.
03Up to 20,000 trees may be cut for installing a solar fence in the Chalakudy forest division, as claimed by environmental groups.
04The proposed solar fence in the Chalakudy Forest Division has triggered scrutiny due to concerns about habitat damage and elephant movement routes.
05The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has initiated suo motu proceedings to investigate illegal tree felling in Kerala.
06The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has received complaints from Kerala regarding alleged illegal forest land diversion and timber auction irregularities in the Chalakudy forest division.

Trap alerts

Most people think the Supreme Court directly oversees forest management in India, but actually it is the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), a body constituted by the Supreme Court, that monitors forest-related issues.
Most people think the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is only responsible for environmental issues, but actually it has the power to initiate suo motu proceedings to investigate illegal activities, including tree felling.

Prelims Practice MCQs

Single facteasy

Up to how many trees may be cut for installing a solar fence in the Chalakudy division?

A.15,000
B.20,000
C.25,000
D.30,000

The Central Empowered Committee has raised concerns about the potential felling of up to 20,000 trees for a solar fence in the Chalakudy division.

Statement I & IIhard

Consider the following two statements: Statement-I: Up to 20,000 trees may be cut for installing a solar fence in the Chalakudy division. Statement-II: The Central Empowered Committee directed the Keralam Forest department and VACB to jointly submit their response to address the issue of tree cutting in the Chalakudy division. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct but Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
C.Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
D.Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Statement-I is true because fact 3 states that up to 20,000 trees may be cut for installing a solar fence in the Chalakudy division. Statement-II is true because fact 2 states that the Central Empowered Committee directed the Keralam Forest department and VACB to jointly submit their response, which is related to the issue of tree cutting in the Chalakudy division. Statement-II explains why Statement-I is true because the Central Empowered Committee's direction to submit a response is related to addressing the issue of tree cutting.

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