How is Rs 75,000 cr environ protection fund being used, SC asks govt

The Supreme Court today wanted to know from the Centre how a "huge amount" of around Rs 75,000 crore, lying in various funds created on apex court's orders for protection of the environment, was being utilised, saying this fund was good enough to bring about a change.

The court said the amount involved was "not small" and directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) to provide the status of these funds with a specific answer whether the money was being utilised for environment protection, rehabilitation and welfare of citizens.

The top court took the issue on its own and asked the apex court registry to register the matter in this regard under the 'suo motu' category.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice M B Lokur said there were around 10 to 12 funds which have been created after the apex court orders on environmental matters and as per information placed before it, the amount lying in them was in the range of Rs 70,000-75,000 crore.

"What are you doing? So many funds have been created under the orders of this court. Which are these funds and what is the amount lying in these funds," the bench, which also comprised Justices Kurian Joseph and Deepak Gupta, asked the MoEF.

Additional Solicitor General A N S Nadkarni, appearing for the MoEF, told the bench that the ministry would update the court about it.

He said a meeting was scheduled between the MoEF and Ministry of Finance with regard to Compensatory Afforestation Funds Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

To this, the bench asked, "What do you propose to do with this money?"