‘Green Court’ To Make Polluters Pay
India has set up a system of green courts to try environment cases. Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said India was only the third country in the world after Australia and New Zealand to set up such a tribunal.
Ramesh has insisted that India’s desire for fast economic growth must not come at the expense of the environment. Anybody and everybody can approach the tribunal to claim civil damages arising out of inadequate implementation of environment laws. The tribunal, which will operate around India, is to be made up of members who are environmental experts and has powers to “try all matters related to and arising out of environmental issues”, said a government statement.
The tribunal is based in Delhi with four regional circuit courts that will travel throughout India to hear civil cases. The move to launch the tribunal was the latest sign of a tougher approach by India to improving its green track record as concerns mount about the impact of growing industrialization on air and water quality, forests and wildlife.
Source-Times of India
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