The Supreme Court on Monday criticised the practice of filing petitions to stall developmental projects under the guise of environmental concerns. A bench led by Surya Kant questioned whether "so-called environmental activists" had ever welcomed any major project in the country. The court observed that blanket opposition to development affects national progress, while clarifying that environmental protection remains important. The remarks came during the hearing of a plea challenging environmental and CRZ clearances granted for the expansion and modernisation of Pipava Port in Gujarat. When the government goes on chopping trees, demolishes houses, compound walls to widen roads in villages, constructs four lane roads/flyovers to carry on the transportation of coal through villages and chokes people's lungs, goes on cutting trees/destroying the forest cover to bring its own projects by even throwing out the original inhabitants/tribal people out from such areas, etc now is this what the SC is referring to as development? The day our elected government will give us uninterrupted electricity, water supply, decent roads, provide children with free education, set up hospitals in every village to give free medical treatment, etc, that is the day I will refer to this as real development.
