The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday pulled up the Environment Ministry for changing its stand on the issue of protection of ecologically sensitive Western Ghats and called it as the “most messy Ministry”.
The Ministry, which had junked the report on Western Ghats by Madhav Gadgil, told the tribunal that it casts doubt on both the reports (Gadgil and K Kasturirangan) and wants to do physical demarcation by conducting a survey. The tribunal headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar rapped the ministry for filing affidavit in a “vague language” and directed its secretary to file a fresh affidavit within one week.
The Bench said In the affidavit which has been brought before the tribunal a vague language has been used which suggests that objections may be filed by any person interested on the proposals contained in the draft notification, including those relating to the area proposed to be brought under the regulation. “Thus, we direct the Secretary, MoEF to file an affidavit on this aspect within one week from today,” the Bench said.
The tribunal was hearing a plea by NGOs Goa Foundation and Peaceful Society, which had sought to restrain the authorities from granting fresh nods to projects in the region. In an affidavit filed before the NGT, MoEF on August 27 had informed,
that it was examining the recommendations of Kasturirangan-led panel and would not process the Gadgil report for further action. The Gadgil panel in its report to MoEF dated August 31, 2011 has designated the entire Western Ghats as an ecologically — sensitive area and divided the whole region in three categories according to their ecological sensitivities.
Gadgil had in its report recommended that no mining should be allowed in the Western Ghats in Goa. WGEEP had recommended that no new licences should be given and where mining exists, it should be phased out by 2016.
The Kasturirangan panel on the other hand that was set up to examine the Gadgil report, had recommended prohibition on development activities in 60,000 sq km ecologically sensitive area spread over six States.