AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Thursday issued notices to the state authorities concerned, the deputy speaker of Gujarat assembly and Shahera MLA, Jethabhai Ahir, his charitable trust after a PIL complained that Ahir and his trust have put up illegal construction deep in the reserved forest of Chandangadh and the forest officials, despite having knowledge of the construction, have not taken action in this regard.
The PIL was filed by two local leaders of opposition party complaining that Ahir and an NGO — Aaeeshree Khodiyar Seva Trust, Chandangadh — in which Ahir’s family members are trustees, have constructed a huge residential structure in the reserved forest since 2019. His advocate Anand Yagnik submitted that the forest officials know about the alleged illegality and except issuance of show-cause notices and registering a Forest Offence Report (FOR), no action has been taken despite violation of environment laws.
