Mangaluru: For the petition by activist and advocate Suma Nayak questioning the allocation of 5.89 acres of woody area for the district office complex, the Southern Bench of NGT has granted time till August 4 to Chief Conservator of Forests, Ministry of Environment and Forest’s Regional Office, to file a report on the nature of the land allotted for the construction of a five-floor district office complex in the city.

The Bench asked the team to mention in the report the extent of land, the number of trees therein, the species and whether these trees were natural or artificial. The Bench had directed the State government to maintain status quo till it decided on the petition.

The Ministry team, led by CCF Somashekar, carried out a detailed survey of the land and of the trees, on June 17 and 18. The work was carried out in the presence of Ms. Nayak and other environment activists.

On Monday, advocate for the Ministry sought one month’s time to file the report. While adjourning the hearing to August 4, the Bench said that the status quo order would continue till further orders.