The Hindu, February 13, 2014
The Environment Ministry informed the National Green Tribunal on
Thursday that a final decision on the implementation of the
Kasturirangan Committee report on the Western Ghats would be taken in a
month. It clarified that the ban on new projects in the 6,000-square
kilometre zone would continue.
The Ministry said it had written to six Chief Ministers, asking for
their views, and their reports were to come in by February 16. Once they
were received, the Ministry would take four weeks to take a final call.
The Tribunal recorded in its order: “… Additional Solicitor-General…
submits that the notification/directions issued under Section 5 of the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, dated November 13, 2013, continue to
be in force. The Ministry has not superseded the same.”
The November 13 order, passed by Jayanthi Natarajan when she was
Environment Minister, imposed a ban on clearances for new mining and
other polluting industries.
After taking over the reins of the Ministry, M. Veerappa Moily announced
that he would consult the Chief Ministers before implementing the
report, causing confusion over the status of the previous orders.
Subsequently, the Kerala government passed an order permitting small
mining in the State without prior environmental clearance.
These issues were raised by the petitioner, Goa Foundation, in an on-going case before the Tribunal.
In its orders, the Tribunal said: “It is submitted that the Environment
Minister has written to the Chief Ministers [asking them] to submit
their views in relation to identification of eco-sensitive region by
February 16. The Ministry, on submission of such views, would take a
final view. For this reason, time is prayed on behalf of the Union of
India.”
The Tribunal asked Kerala to clarify whether its orders also pertained to mining within the Western Ghats zone.
It will hear the case again on March 24.
