Recent findings reveal that the civil secretariat and state assembly in Itanagar were built without the necessary environmental permits. These buildings are inside the Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary (IWS), which was established in 1978 to protect local wildlife.
Environmental activist S. Loda discovered this information after filing a Right to Information (RTI) request to learn about the sanctuary’s legal status and any construction activities. The Deputy Chief Wildlife Warden’s office confirmed that no permissions or environmental clearances have been granted for any building inside the sanctuary area since 1980, even during major expansions in Itanagar.
The IWS is crucial for wildlife, covering about 140.8 square kilometers. Maps provided in the response show that important areas like the civil secretariat, state assembly, and parks are within the sanctuary boundaries.
When asked about the legality of the Itanagar Municipal Corporation and a nearby assembly constituency, officials said, “Not legal.” They admitted they have no records of permission for forest land use or environmental studies on the impact of these constructions.
The IWS, home to species like Indian elephants and clouded leopards, has lost many animals due to human development. According to a recent forest report, Arunachal Pradesh has seen a decline of approximately 549 square kilometers of forest in just two years.
A senior forest officer expressed concern that most infrastructure in Itanagar violates the sanctuary rules. He stated that the government is aware of the situation and is working to fix it, hoping to seek court approval for future land use.
Loda is planning to approach the National Green Tribunal or the Supreme Court for protection of the sanctuary, saying, “We cannot allow ongoing destruction.”
An official from the Chief Minister’s Office mentioned that the government is gathering information to file a case in court, aiming to address these historical issues.
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