MoEF's absent, NGT asks Joint Secretary to be present

The National Green Tribunal today termed as a "strange phenomena" the absence of the Environment Ministry from a number of cases "despite its oral directions and letters" to the government and sought the presence of its Joint Secretary.
"It is a strange phenomena that despite oral directions, letter to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), ... nobody is appearing on behalf of the ministry in the case. It may be noticed that despite service and information, counsel (for MoEF) are not appearing in a number of cases.
"Let Joint Secretary S Singh be personally present before the tribunal on next date of hearing and shall produce records of the case," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said and listed the matter on December 12.

The observations and order of NGT came while hearing a plea alleging that villages along river Alaknanda were destroyed due to closing of Vishnuprayag hydroelectric project's reservoir gate and seeking damages from Jaypee Associates which manages the dam.
The tribunal, on November 1, had issued notices to MoEF, Uttarakhand government and Jaypee Associates asking them to file their replies by today on the plea which also alleges that the destruction due to June floods was aggravated as the river's course was changed by the company to build a temple.
Since none of the respondents filed their reply, the tribunal granted them time to give their version before the next date of hearing.

The petition was filed by environmentalist Vimal Bhai who has contended that the debris got accumulated in the reservoir due to washing away of villages located along the river and this rubble was being illegally dumped in the river in violation of environmental norms.

The petition, filed through advocate Rahul Choudhary, contended that without any permission for removal of debris, Jaypee Associates has been dumping it directly into Alaknanda which could result in endangering life and property downstream of the river.
The petition has sought directions to Jaypee to stop dumping of rubble and muck in the river bed of Alaknanda or any other area which has not been designated for such purpose.

It has also sought directions to the company for removal of the "illegal" temple constructed on the river bed and to restore the area to its original position.
The petition also seeks that Jaypee be directed "to pay penalty and damages for doing harm to the environment and particularly Alaknanda river.