NGT may no longer be a green crusader
Amid speculation that the environment ministry is planning to make NGT a mere advisory body, lawyers, petitioners and even common people are concerned about losing an important instrument of ensuring environmental justice.
After the Centre’s decision to replace the planning commission, the ministry may amend National Green Tribunal Act 2010 to strip NGT of its judicial powers. Ministry sources said the meetings to discuss such a change were in the preliminary stage. TOI examines how the tribunal has impacted ecological issues in NCR in the past four years.
NGT has often made news for its “impractical” directions. In Noida, over 20,000 home buyers have been affected by its decision of not handing over completion certificates to the housing projects falling under the 10km radius of the Okhla bird sanctuary.
The NGT might be toned down of its powers. This is being done mainly because the board has been creatin problems in handing over the completion certificates who have bought houses near the Okhla bird sanctuary. The decisions have not yet been made public however it may come out to everyone in some days.
Source: Times of India
environment ministry, National Green Tribunal Act 2010, NCR, NGT, Noida, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Planning Commission
