By IANS,
New Delhi : Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh Wednesday said the proposed national green tribunal bill would not hamper the community ownership of natural resources.
“There is no intent to weaken community, especially in tribal belts. There should be no ambiguity on this (matter) that community has control on resources, particularly in tribal areas, as this is concern among many members,” Ramesh said as he intervened in the debate over the bill.
The bill aims to establish an autonomous tribunal, independent of the ministry of environment and forests, for environmental clearance of developmental projects.
Several MPs Wednesday urged the environment minister to review clauses of the bill which they alleged weakened the purpose of the legislation aimed at addressing environment-related issues and grievances.
Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit raised the concern that just having four or five benches of the tribunal would curb access for the public and also suggested that the bill deal with developing a scientific research institute and library to put information into public domain.
“You have to empower the bill in a manner that the public will be able to protect itself from disasters like the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy,” Dikshit said during the debate.
Some members slammed the tribunal for being “highly lop-sided to corporate interests” and also wanted the minister to repeal the capping of time period for application for compensation under the bill.
Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo of the Biju Janata Dal congratulated Ramesh on his moratorium on the commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal in India and suggested that the minister hold public consultations across the country on the green tribunal bill like he had on the Bt Brinjal issue.
“I urge him to do the same thing now as well,” Deo said.
Ramesh is expected to reply to the debate Thursday when he is likely to address various concerns expressed by members since the bill was moved March 15.