"Why are they (committee) not able to meet and decide? Does this mean that courts will have to function at the liberty of the the executive? Why has the meeting not been held till date since our earlier orders?" a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The tribunal directed the query at the counsel for the state government who submitted that the meeting had not been held till date and has been scheduled for January 27.
NGT gave the last opportunity to the state of Uttarakhand after it counsel repeatedly assured that meeting will be held on January 27, an effective decision will be taken and a report will be place before the tribunal on February 5.
The tribunal by its orders of August 26 and September 9, 2013, had directed setting up of the expert panel which was to hold a meeting and decide how the post-calamity development work as well as restoration of the ecology of the state should be carried out.
The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by the NGT Bar Association on the June 2013 floods that ravaged the state and its effect on the people and the environment there.