OdishaPlus Bureau
The State Government has begun the process to prepare a State Environment Plan (SEP) as per the directive of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to do so in a timebound manner. The NGT has asked the State Authorities to prepare the SEP by December 15.
The NGT has specifically asked all the Chief Secretaries to ensure that such district-level committees are formed within the stipulated time limit and directed them to monitor the action for preparation of the state’s environment plan before the stipulated date.
A larger Bench of the Green panel comprising of its Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Judicial Members Justice SP Wangdi and Justice K Ramakrishnan and Expert Member Dr. Nagin Nanda has asked the State Government to prepare the SEP.
The NGT has asked all the state governments across the country and the Union Government while harping on formation of District, State, and national level committees for safeguarding the interest of present and future generations.
A senior official in Forest & Environment Department said the State Government is taking steps for formation of such committees at State and District levels as directed by the green panel.
The NGT has asked all the State Governments to file compliance of its order by December 31 after completing their action by December 15.0Expressing serious concern over degradation of the environment, the NGT had asked both Union and State Governments to take effective steps at ground level with active involvement of the rural and urban local bodies.
As per the direction of NGT, while the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is to prepare a draft model plan, District Environment Planning Committees are to chalk out appropriate plans of their own with suitable changes for the local requirements.
The District Collectors will head the District Environment Protection Committee (DEPC) and representatives from Gram Panchayats, local bodies, State Pollution Control Board etc will be a member.
The NGT has further stated that the Department of Environment of all States and Union Territories are to collect such district environment plans of their respective states and accordingly finalize their own plan covering the specific thematic areas.
Basing upon environment plans of the states, CPCB and Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change will prepare India’s Environment Plan accordingly, it suggested.
Secretary of MoEF&CC and Chairman of CPCB are directed to steer the preparation of such a plan on a priority basis.
The NGT has specifically asked the Union Government to formulate such a plan by the end of January 2020 and to file compliance report to the green body on or before February 15, 2020.
The environment scientists have expressed concern over climate change and pollution-related issues while several cases are being filed before the Green Panel for protection and preservation of the environment.If the directives of the green body are appropriately followed in letter and spirit, a lot of issues relating to degradation of environment will be solved in ground level, feel experts.