National Green Tribunal (NGT) Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that they are for setting up a regional bench in Hyderabad. Responding to a proposal from an activist at a programme organised on the occasion of World Environment Day on Monday, he said the government should be approached first with the request to set up a bench.
“If the government asks us, we will give the consent. We will be happy to come to Hyderabad. There are a lot of environment issues here,” he said.
Mr. Kumar was speaking at the seminar on the theme ‘connecting people to nature..’ organised by the B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU), Council for Green Revolution, and Sakshi School of Journalism.
He spoke about some of the landmark judgements passed by the tribunal in the recent past, including levying a fine of ₹100 crore for dumping a ship in the continental shelf, directing State governments to ensure that farmers do not burn crops, and limiting vehicles in the Himalayan range in Himachal Pradesh to prevent melting of glaciers.
The retired Supreme Court judge informed that 82% of the cases that come to NGT are heard within the year they are admitted.
If one were to go by the culture and heritage, India is the most conscious nation when it comes to environment. There are enough laws in the country, more than developed nations, that can prevent degradation of environment, including air and water. He pointed out that the problem lies in the implementation of the laws.
Citing the example of Bengaluru, Justice Kumar said deforestation and pollution of lakes should be stopped immediately.
Some of the speakers at the seminar included renowned environmentalist K. Purudhotham Reddy, Chairman of the Bar Council of A.P. and Telangana A. Narasimha Reddy, executive editor of Sakshi Dilip Reddy, and director general of National Academy of Construction K. Bikshapathi.