By IANS,
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday demanded a relook at the Green Tribunal Bill that aims to address environmental-related issues and grievances, saying it would discourage the people from raising such issues.
The bill, cleared by the cabinet in December last year, was tabled in the Lok Sabha Monday by Minister of State for Environment Jairam Ramesh.
Criticising some of the provisions of the bill, BJP MP Anant Kumar said: “The tribunal would have the right to levy any amount of costs on litigants. It would be unconstitutional and would discourage environment-friendly people from coming forward with their issues related to ecology.”
He said the experts body proposed to be set up would be nothing but a club of retired IAS officers.
“There is a complete mismatch between the government’s claims and the provisions of the bill. We can’t accept the bill in its present form and it should be relooked at,” he said.
The bill aims to establish an autonomous tribunal, independent of the ministry of environment and forests, for environmental clearance of developmental projects.
President Pratibha Patil had mentioned the bill in her address to the joint session of parliament last month, saying: “To ensure expeditious and effective disposal of civil cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests, a National Green Tribunal Bill has been introduced.”
If approved by parliament, the bill will be used for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection, conservation of forests and other natural resources, thus strengthening environmental adjudication and settlement of disputes, the government says.