Forest dept lodges complaint against college

Alleges illegal constructions on bird sanctuary land

The Forest department has lodged a case against the management of Anand Engineering College, Agra, run by Sharda Group of Institutions (SGI), for continuing constructions in the college premises which falls in the periphery of Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, without obtaining necessary environmental clearances.

Range Officer L N Uttam said college director S R Chaudhary has gone absconding after a warrant was issued against him on Saturday. He said a team of forest officials led by deputy director of National Chambal Sanctuary Sujoy Bannerjee had visited the college and found the constructions going on. Uttam said the construction work was videographed for evidence.

The mandatory clearances from National Board of Wildlife and Supreme Court were not taken before starting the constructions, he said.

The Range Officer said earlier also the college had been issued several notices but the management went on with the constructions. The college was also fined for polluting the sanctuary by discharging affluent and waste material in it, but the management challenged the matter in the Allahabad High Court, he said.

The college was established in 1998 on the private land which falls in the area of the bird sanctuary. The campus, spread over six hectare area on Delhi-Agra road (NH-2), has several blocks of buildings for hostels and classes. The forest officials who had an scuffle with the college administration officials on Sunday during their inspection have given the college management time till October 15 for seizing the college.

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