AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Friday asked the amicus curiae to file a detailed report on the present situation with regard to the hotels and resorts on the periphery of the Gir sanctuary, the last abode of the Asiatic lions, which were sealed in 2014 after being found in violation of norms and said, “This is a very serious issue”.
It was submitted before the court that there were 169 hotels and resorts which had to obtain NOC after making modifications to suit environment norms. One of the resort owners complained that in February the court had ordered a specially formed committee to inspect and hear the resort management, to verify and issue NOC for activities if the modifications are found satisfactorily meeting the norms.
It was complained that the HC had ordered the process of issuance of NOC to be completed in a week’s time. The process was over, but the Committee has not taken any decision for last six months.
The amicus curiae in this case, advocate Siraj Gori, submitted that he had prepared a detailed note in 2016 and the situation has not changed a bit since then. The high court asked him to come up with a fresh report on the present situation after taking assistance from the state government.
The crackdown on the hospitality industry around the Gir sanctuary took place after the high court took suo motu cognizance of the issue of unauthorized use of facilities and illegal constructions, which caused problems for the movement of the lions. The HC has posted further hearing on October 29.
