Noting that legislature and judiciary can play a major role in checking pollution, former Supreme Court Judge Justice Arijit Pasayat today said protecting environment should be a constitutional mandate.
"Environment protection has now become a matter of grave concern for human existence. Therefore, protecting and conserving environment should be a constitutional mandate," he said.
There is constitutional imperative on government bodies not only to ensure and safeguard environment but also an imperative duty to take adequate measure to promote, protect and improve the environment, he said while delivering the 16th NALCO Foundation Day Lecture on 'Environment & Progress : Issues & Challenges'.
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Citing several examples and judgments from his career as a judge of the apex court, Justice Pasayat, who is the vice-chairman of the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team on Black Money, said the legislature and the judiciary can play a major role in preventing threats of modernisation and pollution on environment.
Citing an example, Justice Pasayat said the people of Delhi are able to breathe pure air because of the Supreme Court, as introduction of CNG for public transport vehicles substantially checked pollution.
There was a lot of criticism from several quarters at the time of introduction of CNG. But, when its benefits were visible everybody tried to take credit for the move, he said
Referring to the order on mining in Aravalli hills, the former Supreme Court judge said, industrial and mining issues should not be seen solely from economic perspectives as a lot of damage is caused to the environment due to greed and tendency to make profits.
Noting that environmental pollution was controlled effectively in ancient times, he said since times immemorial nature has been considered very important.
In India, many rivers are regarded as manifestation of Goddesses which helped in maintaining a balance between environment and the process of development. Now, pollution level had increased so much that use of river water these days cause skin diseases, he said.
Informing that many environmental issues have been
taken up in the country through PILs, Justice Pasayat said a cautious approached should be followed while dealing with PILs as some of these are guided by motives other than public interest.
Nalco's Tapan Kumar Chand said our relationship with the environment is like the relation between a mother and a child and asked the mining fraternity to move from "mere mining to scientific and sustainable mining".
"'Mining with the mind' is needed to bring the society onboard so that mining is done for development and growth, and at the same time environment is protected and promoted, he said.
On the occasion, cheques were handed over to 10 girl students from BPL families from Angul sector under the company's 'Nalco ki Ladli Scheme' designed in line with the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' programme.
