Jodhpur, Aug. 18 -- The National Green Tribunal's Central Zone Bench has taken cognizance of allegations of encroachment and illegal mining in a reserved forest area of Sikar, Rajasthan, and ordered an inquiry into the matter, a lawyer familiar with the case said on Sunday. A bench of justice Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Dr Vijay Kulkarni was hearing an application filed by Mala Ram Gurjar and another, who alleged that private parties, in collusion with revenue officials, had encroached upon reserved forest land in Khata Nos. 476, 477 and 698, felled mature trees, and constructed an unauthorized road to transport mined minerals. The applicants pointed out that the land, being a notified reserved forest under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, cannot be used for non-forestry purposes without clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Despite complaints to the district collector on June 12, 2025, no action had been taken, they alleged. Taking note of what it termed a substantial environmental issue, the tribunal directed: "Respondents are directed to submit their reply within six weeks through e-filing portal." "We deem it just and proper to call a report on the matter in issue, in present application, from a joint committee consisting of one representative from the collector, district Sikar, one representative from the DFO, Sikar, and one representative from the member secretary, state pollution control board," the tribunal said. The committee has been asked to visit the site and submit a factual and action taken report within six weeks, with the Rajasthan state pollution control board designated as the nodal agency for coordination and logistic support. The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 6, 2025....