Too costly to setup NGT bench in Goa: Manohar Parrikar

PORVORIM: Chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said that he isn't in favour of setting up a circuit bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the state as it would entail high costs.

Declining to elaborate further, Parrikar, replying to a query during a cabinet briefing, said that there would be a huge financial strain to set up the bench for hearings that "would not be held regularly".

Parrikar also refused to comment what would be the next course of action consequent to high court order.

Recently, the high court of Bombay at Goa stayed a notification issued by the Union ministry environment, forest and climate notification to transfer Goa's environmental cases from the Pune bench of the NGT to New Delhi. The state government had taken the stance that Delhi is logistically more convenient than Pune.

The high court bench, headed by Justice GS Patel, had strongly commended that the state government immediately take up with all seriousness the proposal to establish a circuit bench in Goa. "No cause should be allowed to be lost for want of a court," the judgment stated. "For this is something none can deny: this is a land truly worth fighting for."