National Green Tribunal- its role in controlling pollution

National Green Tribunal- its role in controlling pollution

Question:-A lot of awareness is being spread through various mediums regarding the ever rising pollution in the country. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established to address this problem. Write a critical note on the role of the NGT.

- Aim of NGT: The National Green Tribunal Act was an act of the Parliament which aimed at providing a healthy environment, conservation of forests and other natural resources. It also looks after the enforcement of legal rights for environment and offering relief for damages to people and property. This department handles the expeditious disposal of environmental issues and assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy environment.

- Completed Projects: Since its inception, steps in different directions have been taken in order to reduce pollution and other activities that are impacting the environment. Recently it has banned diesel vehicles older than 10 years in Delhi NCR along with a ban on solid waste burning. The rising pollution levels have made them take these steps and Delhi NCR is the highest in the list of polluted cities. It has also ordered the cancellation of coal block clearance in Hasdee-Arand forests overriding the decision of the central government. There is proposed plan to revitalize the Yamuna river for 52km stretch in Delhi and UP region.

- Drawbacks of NGT: However despite the prompt steps taken by them, there has been little change in the ever rising pollution levels. Most part of the reason for this is lack of support and inefficiency on part of central and state government. This results in delay in implementing the decision of NGT and with its restricted capacity and staff it is unable to make much movement without support of either.

- There is a need for the central and state governments to work in collaboration with the NGT for an effective outcome. The recently launched National Air Quality Index can be used in monitoring pollution levels.

- Despite having solved a lot of problems it still has a many pending and since it has no suo-moto powers, it restricts its scope in the area of environment.

Facts and Figures

- The National Green Tribunal has been established on 18.10.2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 It was enacted under India's constitutional provision of Article 21

- On 18 October 2010, Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta became its first Chairman

- Currently it is chaired by Justice Swatanter Kumar since 20 Dec 2012.