News that the National Green Tribunal is thinking of having a circuit bench in Goa might come as a shock to the state government which, in the past, had tried to shift cases to New Delhi to make it difficult for locals. A decision has not yet been taken, but the president of the National Green Tribunal Bar Association, who was in Goa, disclosed that nearly 45 per cent of the cases filed in the NGT came from individuals in the State. And most of them pertain to violations of coastal zone regulations. This does not reflect very well on the state government which should have restricted and curbed illegal constructions along the coast. The number of illegal constructions along the coast run into
hundreds and the rate at which cases are decided and the
lengthy process involved in taking a case to its logical conclusion
only means that the dice is loaded in favour of violators.
Governments have proved ineffectual in stopping such constructions
and spineless in taking timely action. It might be
recalled that Chief Minister Laxmikant
Parsekar had remarked that
most of the constructions along the
coast in the Pernem taluka were
illegal. And instead of tightening
rules and regulations, the State and
Central governments are actively
considering moves to dilute them.
It might be recalled that the UPA
government had contemplated a
significant changes in CRZ rules
which were opposed by NGOs, fishermen and people living
along the coast because they were considered destructive.
Jairam Ramesh was perhaps the last union minister of forest
and environment who actually cared about the environment
and during his tenure there was a perception that the environment
was in good hands. Of course he got into perennial
fights with other ministries, but always stood his ground until
he was removed to make way for coal blocks in forests. Similarly,
in Goa as long as Alina Saldanha held the environment
and forest portfolio, those fighting to protect the environment
had hope. She stood firm on several issues especially on construction
of marinas in eco-sensitive zones. Rajendra Arlekar,
though efficient is not considered a friend of the environment
and a perception that he will put industry ahead of the environment
is gaining ground.
Goa is still a very green state, but there is a very strong development
lobby which is pushing for more projects in virgin
areas. The decision of the government to allow tourism projects
in forest areas and the massive development that will unfold
in Chapora to support the Mopa airport will all come at
the cost of the environment. A weak-willed government and
coastal zone management authority will only pave the way for
massive projects. In light of projects cleared by the Industrial
Promotion Board, many of which are expansion of hotels and
new ones, the National Green Tribunal assumes greater significance
and the thought that it will have hearings at least once
in two weeks or more, comes as a relief to those seeking to protect
the environment against the juggernaut of development.
Of course, all this would have been unnecessary if the government
had been firm with violators and not tinkered with the
regional plan, which is, till date the best planning document
ever produced by a state government in the country. Goa is
poised for huge development in the extreme north and if attention
is not paid to the environment, the state will be the
biggest loser. It is under these circumstances that the NGT assumes
greater significance.
