Tungareshwar ashram row: SC yet to give verdict on forest officials’ assault

The Committee members said the decision to make a second visit came after the petitioners (the temple trustees) grudged that they had not been heard suitably. “The trustees complained that there was a second illegal outfit called the Chakachak ashram,within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park precinct and why is the radar only on their ashram. We therefore visited both the ashrams on Saturday,to take a good look at the activities,” said Chedda,the member secretary of CEC.

The CEC will submit their final recommendations to the SC within 15 days,Chedda said.

Last August,a two-member committee from the CEC comprising of Anmol Kumar and S Patnaik had visited the ashram for inspection when representatives of the ashram trust appealed that the land on which the temple was constructed was not part of the sanctuary.

However,forest department had records which contradicted their claims. The temple is said to be situated in compartment number 1082 of survey number 121 in the forest records. Debi Goenka,member of the Bombay Environmentalist Action Group,who had filed the PIL on the issue,said,“Since it is very clear that the ashram is an encroachment,we don’t know the purpose of the CEC’s second visit. We hope the final recommendations are made now,it’s high time.”

However,PN Munde,conservator of forest was hopeful: “At least we can expect a verdict on the matter soon now,” he said.