Forest panel rejects Uttarakhand HC relocation plan again over forest land concerns

New DelhiThe proposal to permanently shift the Uttarakhand High Court from Nainital to Haldwani has suffered another setback, with a Union Environment Ministry panel rejecting the State government’s plan to divert 30 hectares of reserved forest land in the Lamachaur area.

The Regional Empowered Committee (REC), which examined the proposal at its October 16 meeting in Dehradun, said the State had not adequately explored suitable non-forest alternatives. It also flagged shortcomings in site-specific justification, project documentation, layout plans and wildlife protection measures.

Uttarakhand High court asks govt to find suitable site for its relocation out of Nainital

“The proposal has been submitted for a specific forest land site without providing sufficient justification regarding the examination of alternative sites,” the REC said in its decision.