Western Ghats issue: NGT pulls up MoEF, dubs it 'most messy'

The National Green Tribunal today pulled up the Ministry of Environment and Forests for changing its stand on the issue of protection of ecologically sensitive Western Ghats and called it as the "most messy ministry".
The environment ministry, which had junked the report on Western Ghats by Madhav Gadgil, told the tribunal that it casts doubt on both the reports (Gadgil and K Kasturirangan) and wants to do physical demarcation by conducting a survey.
"This ministry is most messy ministry," a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, after perusing an affidavit filed by MoEF, said.
During the hearing, the tribunal rapped the ministry for filing affidavit in a "vague language" and directed its secretary to file a fresh affidavit within one week.

"In variance to the stand taken by the MoEF earlier on the last date of hearing, the counsel appearing for MoEF, upon instructions from, Dy Director, MoEF, has stated that Dr Kasturirangan report, in fact has been accepted by MoEF and the draft notification has been issued in furtherance thereto and the WGEEP (Gadgil report) is not to be processed by the ministry any further.
"In the affidavit which has been brought before the tribunal today, again a vague language has been used which suggests that objections may be filed by any person interested on the proposals contained in the draft notification, including those relating to the area proposed to be brought under the regulation. Thus, we direct the Secretary, MoEF to file an affidavit on this aspect within one week from today," the bench said.

The tribunal was hearing a plea by NGOs Goa Foundation and Peaceful Society, which had sought to restrain the authorities from granting fresh nods to projects in the region.

On August 27, in an affidavit filed before the NGT, MoEF had informed that it was examining the recommendations of Kasturirangan-led panel and would not process the Gadgil report for further action.
Gadgil panel in its report to MoEF dated August 31, 2011 has designated the entire Western Ghats as an ecologically- sensitive area and divided the whole region in three categories according to their ecological sensitivities.
The WGEEP had in its report recommended that no mining should be allowed in the Western Ghats in Goa.