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Rishad’s reforestation in limbo

03 Mar 2021

A programme to reforest part of the Wilpattu Forest at a cost of Rs. 1 billion, following the Court of Appeal ruling that ordered former Minister and incumbent MP Rishad Bathiudeen to pay for engaging in deforestation for resettlement activities, is yet to get off the ground, The Morning learnt. Speaking to The Morning, Forest Department Deputy Conservator Nishantha Edirisinghe said that the Department is ready to implement a reforestation programme but is awaiting the Supreme Court (SC) decision. “This is due to the appeal petition filed by Bathiudeen in the SC, seeking an order to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal dated 16 November 2020 in connection with the deforestation of the Northern Sanctuary of the Wilpattu National Park.” According to Edirisinghe, the Department has selected five districts in which to implement this programme and is awaiting the Rs. 1 billion in funds to come through. “Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Mannar, Ampara, and Polonnaruwa are the districts where we plan to embark on a reforestation campaign. Bare lands belonging to the Department of Forest Conservation (DFC) would be used under this reforestation campaign,” he added. In its judgment, the Court of Appeal had issued an order in the nature of a writ of mandamus to the Conservator General of the DFC to take action to implement a tree planting programme in accordance with the provisions of the Forest Conservation Ordinance in any area equivalent to the reserve forest area used for the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs). This was in favour of a petition filed by environmental groups. The Court of Appeal found Bathiudeen liable for illegal forest clearing in the Wilpattu Forest, a Ramsar Wetland, and ordered him to pay for reforestation, estimated at more than Rs. 1 billion. Bathiudeen has filed a special leave to appeal petition in the SC seeking an order to set aside the said judgment of the Court of Appeal.


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