- (1.) LIST IA No. 1408 along with this application.
(2.) LEARNED counsel appearing for the applicant has no objection to the recommendations made by CEC in its report dated 25-11-2005 which are to the following effect: (i) no felling of any type may be permitted in the forest area falling inside the national parks and sanctuaries (in 36,537 ha) and natural forest falling outside the national parks/sanctuaries (in 42,082); (ii) no felling of trees including by way of silvicultural operations such as thinning, etc. may be permitted in the plantations in the forest area above the 1000 metre altitude (in 13,402 ha). Here, the felling and the replacement of the existing plantation of exotic species by the miscellaneous plantations of the indigenous species in four sample plots with the maximum area of 2 ha each may be allowed for the next five years. After observing the results of such sample plots, if found necessary, further relaxation may be considered at that stage; (iii) thinning and other silvicultural operations may be permitted in the forest area between 500 metre to 1000 metre altitude (in 8362 ha); and (iv) felling of the plantations may be permitted in the forest area below the 500 metre altitude (in 5406 ha). This application is disposed of in terms of the aforesaid recommendations of CEC.
(3.) THE application of the State Government is accepted to the extent and subject to what is contained in paras 6 and 7 of the CEC Report dated 25-11-2005. It is, however, noted that permission for collection of boulders and sand from the river beds falling inside the sanctuaries would be applicable also to District Jalpaiguri in addition to District Darjeeling. The IA is disposed of. lAsNos. 1117-18;