Asaram`s ashram made certain violations on central ridge: Govt
An official committee has found that the ashram of controversial godman Asaram Bapu on the ecologically sensitive central ridge of Delhi has made "certain violations", Lok Sabha was informed today.
New Delhi: An official committee has found that the ashram of controversial godman Asaram Bapu on the ecologically sensitive central ridge of Delhi has made "certain violations", Lok Sabha was informed today.
In a written reply, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had asked the government to constitute a committee comprising the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, representatives of the Environment Ministry and the Ridge Management Board to inspect part of central ridge area.
The committee was asked to comment on whether any excess area was occupied by Asaram Ashram Trust.
The total area is indicated as 4,312 sq yard along with the approach path of 350ft approximately in all. The NGT had also asked the panel to comment on whether any construction was made recently.
"The Committee ...Inspected the site of Asaram Ashram Trust in Central Ridge area and has submitted the report. The Committee found certain violations," Javadekar said.
He said out of a total of 864 hectare land notified as Central Ridge, 423 hectare area is under the administrative control of the Delhi Government`s Forest Department.
The Minister said there was no encroachment reported in the area under the administrative control of the Delhi Government`s Forest Department.
A petition before the NGT had alleged that Asaram`s trust has illegally constructed an `ashram` and other structures in the Central Ridge despite a notification issued by the Delhi Government in May 1994 declaring the Ridge as "reserved forest" in terms of the provisions of the Indian Forest Act.
72-year-old Asaram Bapu is languishing in a jail in Rajasthan facing trial in rape cases.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.