As map goes missing, NGT orders Jodhpur collector to find original revenue records

Expressing surprise over unavailability of a revenue map, the National Green Tribunal Monday directed the Jodhpur collector to take immediate steps to find the original revenue record of Beri Ganga and Motisara forest area. A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore also directed the collector to prepare a compilation of Google imageries of the last 10 years.

It also reiterated its order directing the Rajasthan government not to conduct any sand mining activity in the area of Beri Ganga and Motisara of Jodhpur district. "One revenue trace map (on cloth sheet) has been shown to us. It does not have any mark of authentication, namely, as to the name of person who had prepared it, when it was prepared and the name of the officer who had authenticated.

"As mentioned in the letter issued by the tehsildar, Jodhpur, the certified copy of the trace map is not available and demarcation of the area would be possible only when the revenue trace map is available. "Therefore, we direct the collector, Jodhpur to take immediate steps to trace out the original record and incase the same is not found, then appropriate steps for missing or theft of government records may be taken by lodging an FIR and also departmental inquiry against the concerned who was responsible for custody of the record," the bench said.

The matter is listed for next hearing on August 19. The NGT on May 15 directed that no mining or non-forest activity would be carried out till the demarcation is made in accordance to the revenue record.

The bench had also said that it had given several opportunities to the state government and its authorities to demarcate the land "but the same has not been done because the trace map is said to be not available". The NGT was hearing a plea filed by local resident Ram Ji Vyas, alleging illegal mining going in the Beri Ganga Forest Block at Khasra Mandore village in Jodhpur.

The plea had alleged that large scale mining was being carried out with the help of mechanical excavators in connivance with authorities without obtaining requisite permission. The Rajasthan government had, however, refuted the allegation and said there was no illegal mining and authorities were taking requisite action to stop such activity.

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