- (1.) Upon hearing counsel the Court made the following :- Mr. ADN. Rao, learned counsel has filed in Court an affidavit of Mr. Aseem Srivastav, Deputy Inspector General (Wild Life), Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests dated 21st February, 2003. From the said affidavit, it appears that the Standing Committee of Indian Board for Wild Life held its meeting on 17th February, 2003 to consider the proposal and counter proposal submitted by the State of Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh in respect of realignment between Kalagarh and Phekanala to avoid damage to the Corbett National Park. As per the said affidavit, the proposals have been accepted but subject to certain conditions so as to preserve and protect the Corbett National Park which is a national asset.
(2.) Learned counsel for the two States pray for a short adjournment to file affidavits in response to the decision of the Standing Committee as stated in the affidavit of Mr. Srivastav. Let the same be filed within two weeks and matters be listed thereafter.
(3.) The question of non-release of funds by the States and the averment of diversification of those funds specifically alld for Tiger Protection under the project 'Tiger' and for other purposes and also the question of filling up of vacancies in the Forest and Wild Life Department of the State shall also be taken up for consideration along with the matter of the road in Jim Corbett National Park;