RAJKOT: In an important judgement to protect Asia’s finest grassland, Banni, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Gujarat government to constitute a joint committee of Kutch divisional commissioner and chief conservator of forest ( Kutch) to prepare an action plan within one month clearly defining the extent of encroachments and modalities to clear them. “Some encroachments are claimed to have been removed and tje process to remove the remaining is said to be underway. To enforce the rule of law and to protect the forest lands, meaningful further action should be taken expeditiously and completed within six months. The execution of the action plan may be reviewed by the committee at least once every month,” NGT orders states. In 2018, Banni Pashu Uchherak Maldhari Sangathan (Banni Breeder Associations), a pastoralists’ organization, had moved NGT over a massive encroachment of 18,000 hectares of land in the Banni protected area. The petitioner’s grievance was against the continuing of non-forest activities in the grasslands in violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 “There are rampant encroachments in Banni protected forests which was declared as protected forest in 1955. Non-forest activities are going on without following the provisions of the FC Act and Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights, Act, 2006 (FRA, 2006). There is lack of coordination between forest and revenue departments on account of which no effective action is taken for protection of the forests,” the petition stated. Banni grasslands accounts for approximately 45% of the pastures in the state and area comprises 48 hamlets organized into 19 panchayats with a population of approximately 40,000 people.. Petitioner said that the Banni area consists of two ecosystems in juxtaposition; wetlands and grasslands. These grasslands harbour a rich array of flora and fauna including 192 species of plants, 262 species of birds, several species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Traditionally, Banni grasslands were managed following a system of rotational grazing. Encroachments are affecting the rights of the tribals, the old Maldharis. Their main occupation is rearing livestock. The Banni grassland is said to have spread over an area of 2,618 sq km and is home to indigenous breeds of livestock – the Banni buffalo and Kankrej cattle. Earlier in July 2019, NGT had ordered the state government to demarcate the boundaries of the grassland and ensure that no non-forest activity was carried out. Kakan Mutwa, a Maldhari from Abhdanga village, said, “The order has brought relief to our community members. I have myself encroached some part of the grassland for agriculture but I am ready to give it back.”