Chhattisgarh High Court upheld the State Government order and has struck down 19 petitions filed by the saw milkers challenging the policy by declaring all areas within an aerial radius of 10 kilometres from notified forests and protected areas as restricted areas.
All sawmills in the notified buffer zone will now continue to be closed. While giving oral hearing to the matter, the High Court stated that protection of environment should be given first priority and added that it did not want pollution like that in the Delhi and welcomed the State’s decision of setting up a protective zone around forest areas.
The conflict stemmed from a notification issued by the Chhattisgarh government on 25th September 2025 under Section 5(1) of Chhattisgarh Timber Sawing Act 1984 making forests within 10 km radius of forests as a restricted area. The Forest Department then ordered the shut down of all the sawmills in the area and did not approve renewal of their licences thereafter.
A number of saw millers’ appealed to the High Court saying that the said notification had a negative impact on their business / livelihood. The court decided, however, that the government’s decision was legally sound and was put in place in order to safeguard the forests and the environment.
It is anticipated that the decision will make a major difference to timber companies that are close to protected forest areas around the state. It also enhances the ability of the government to regulate protection around nature sensitive areas.
Since all petitions have been dismissed now, the Forest department is expected to continue enforcing the buffer zone in Chhattisgarh.