NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL

  • November 10, 2020
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Subject : National Organisation

Context : National Green Tribunal restricts use of firecrackers for all festivals this year.

Concept :

  • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a specialized body that was formed under the NGT Act, 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases that are related to the protection and conservation of the environment, forests, and other natural resources.
  • India has become the third country in the world after Australia and New Zealand, for setting up a specialized environmental tribunal and also the first developing country to do so.
  • The National Green Tribunal has a total of five places of sittings namely: Bhopal, Pune, New Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai, amongst which, New Delhi is the Principal place of sitting.

Objectives of National Green Tribunal (NGT)

  • Effective and expeditious disposal of cases that are related to the protection and conservation of the environment, forests, and other natural resources.
  • To give relief and compensations for any damages caused to persons and properties.
  • To handle various environmental disputes that involve multi-disciplinary issues.

Structure of NGT

  • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) comprises three major bodies namely: the Chairperson, the Judicial Members, and the Expert Members. Also, there should be a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 fulltime Judicial as well as Expert members in the NGT.
  • All these members are required to hold the office for five years and are not eligible for reappointment. The Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is appointed by the Central Government of India in accordance with the Chief Justice of India.
  • A Selection Committee is formed by the central government of India for the appointment of Judicial Members and Expert Members.

Powers of NGT

  • NGT provides a way for the evolution of environmental jurisprudence through the development of an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.
  • It helps in the reduction of the litigation burden on environmental matters in the higher courts.
  • NGT provides a faster solution for various environment-related disputes that are less formal and less expensive.
  • It curbs environment-damaging activities. NGT ensures the strict observation of the Environment Impact Assessment process.
  • NGT provides reliefs and compensations for any damages caused to persons and properties.
  • The National Green Tribunal resolves various civil cases under the following seven laws that are related to the environment:

          Water Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution), 1974

          Water Cess Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution), 1977

          Forest Act (Conservation), 1980

         Air Act (Prevention and Control of Pollution), 1981

         Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

         Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991

         Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL National Organisation