Forest panel rejects Uttarakhand High Court relocation plan again

A Union Environment Ministry panel has again rejected Uttarakhand's plan to divert 30 hectares of reserved forest at Lamachaur to shift the High Court from Nainital to Haldwani. The Regional Empowered Committee said non-forest alternatives were not properly explored, flagged gaps in documentation and wildlife safeguards, and raised concerns about a possible elephant corridor and the felling of 123 trees.