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.
