Congress terms exclusion of Goa from NGT Pune 'anti-Goan' decision

The Congress on Sunday said that bringing Goa under National Green Tribunal (NGT) Delhi was an anti-Goan decision by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Goa was earlier excluded from the jurisdiction of the Pune bench of the NGT and brought under the Delhi bench in an order issued by the MoEFCC.

Congress leader Girish Chodankar has, in a press statement, said that the decision is made to "puncture" the pro-environmental activism of Goans and make legal remedy unaffordable to activists and the NGOs.

"NGT Pune had served the interests of Goa very well in terms of accessibility and proximity. This decision has the blessings of Chief Minister Parrikar and motivated by forces out to destroy Goa and Goemkarponn," Chodankar said.

He further said that Chief Minister Parrikar is well known for his "stance" against environmental activists, adding that "40 per cent of litigation at NGT Pune came from the small state of Goa."

Girish Chodankar further stated that it's a "surprise" that Gujarat and Karnataka continue to be with Pune and Goa, which falls in the Western Region and lies closer to Pune, is shifted to Delhi.

"This shift has no rational basis and smacks of ulterior motives. The silence of Chief Minister Parrikar and the so-called Goemkarponn politicians speaks for itself," said Congress member Chodankar.