Mangaluru : A team of officials from the regional office of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) headed by Chief Conservator of Forests Somashekar on Friday inspected the contentious 5.89 acres of area in Padil proposed for the construction of the district office complex.

Green activist and advocate Suma Nayak had approached the National Green Tribunal against the move of the State government to leave the area out of the definition of “deemed forest” and cut down 478 trees on the premises. The land belonging to the Karnataka State Forest Industries Corporation was recently transferred to the Revenue Department.

Admitting the petition of Ms. Nayak, a Division Bench of the National Green Tribunal comprising P. Jyothimani and P.S. Rao on April 28 directed the MoEF to depute a team of officials headed by Chief Conservator of Forests to survey the area and submit a report. The Bench said that the report should mention, among others, the extent of land, the number of trees, the species and whether these trees were natural or artificial. While asking the MoEF to submit its report by July 4, the tribunal had directed the State government to maintain status quo till it decides on the petition.

The officials carried out a survey of the land with the help of the personnel from the Survey Department. They also took note of the number of trees in the area. The activity was carried out in presence of Ms. Nayak and her representatives.

According to official sources, the team has completed survey of the land proposed for the district office complex. A few trees, which have been left out, will be surveyed on Saturday.