KOCHI: Though the state has been witnessing massive reclamation of wetlands and paddy fields, NGO and citizen groups have not filed any case related to rejuvenation of green zones and also under provisions of water and air pollution in the National Green Tribunal Act.
The national green tribunal (NGT) was set up around two years ago solely to look at green cases and four green benches are currently functioning in the country. "Of around 700 cases filed in NGT nationally, only three cases are related to rejuvenation of green zones and for compensation by people who lost their livelihood and victims of air and water pollution,'' said Ritwick Dutta, lawyer in Supreme Court who represents NGO Legal Initiative on Forest and Environment (LIFE).
Dutta was in Kochi to participate in a one-day orientation workshop on the National Green Tribunal Act, organised by LIFE, River Research Centre and One Earth One Life.
"It is surprising that states like Kerala have not filed cases using provisions of the act whereby penalties can be imposed for pollution of water and air,'' he said, referring to massive pollution issues in the Periyar and reclamation of paddy land for the proposed Aranmula airport.
Dutta pointed out that the NGT had passed landmark orders setting aside mega projects of companies like Sterlite and Posco group for flouting forest conservation laws and even stopped major thermal projects in eco-fragile regions.
"But there have been infrastructure and staff issues, and even today there is a shortage of around seven judges. The government should fill these posts as the NGT is the next best thing that has happened in the country after the implementation of the RTI Act,'' he said.
Dutta said the decision-making process of the expert appraisal committee for eco-clearance needed to be questioned as it cleared 72 projects in one meeting, taking just two-and-a-half minutes to look at each project.
"The environment impact assessment (EIA) report and public hearing for many projects are fabricated. The NGT had set aside the proposed coal plant by Jindal group when it was found that the public hearing was a farce,'' he said.
He said the EIA site report for the Rs 62,000-crore Posco project had mentioned that the study of flora and fauna of the region was done through a helicopter survey and a study on olive turtle population was done after making a telephone call to the chief wildlife warden of that area.
"For every project, a cumulative assessment needs to be done that will look at the cultural and socio-political impact on the project area,'' he added.
